Cristiano Ronaldo spoke candidly about his future retirement in a sincere statement. The legendary forward for the Portugal National Team recently delivered another impressive performance against Poland, netting two goals during a 5-1 triumph. As discussions regarding Ronaldo’s potential retirement from international football have been prevalent for some time, “CR7” shared his thoughts on what it would take for him to hang up his boots with renowned soccer journalist Fabrizio Romano.
“I’m turning 40 soon… I really want to enjoy it, and as long as I feel motivated, I keep going. The day I don’t feel motivated, I will retire.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarkable career may extend to the 2026 World Cup
Despite facing challenges during the 2024 Euros, Ronaldo has found the net in all three subsequent matches in the UEFA Nations League. In his nine appearances this season with Al-Nassr, he has scored six goals and provided two assists. If CR7 maintains this form, he could very well be part of the Portuguese squad for the 2026 World Cup, where he would be 42 years old.
The Portuguese team still boasts an elite roster with world-class talents like Ronaldo, Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes, and Bernardo Silva. Ranked seventh in the FIFA rankings, they are poised to be strong contenders heading into the tournament in two years. However, should Ronaldo’s international and club careers conclude before then, he would retire with nothing left to prove.
Ronaldo is the all-time leading goalscorer and has accumulated an impressive collection of individual and team accolades. He has claimed the Ballon d’Or as Europe’s best player five times and has lifted the Champions League trophy five times as well. Four of those titles were secured with Real Madrid, while the fifth came during his time at Manchester United.
His professional journey commenced at Sporting CP at the age of 17. A year later, the young prodigy made the move to England, where he developed into one of the premier wingers under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson. The bond between them remains strong to this day. After six successful years with the “Red Devils,” Ronaldo transitioned to Real Madrid, where he established one of the most iconic rivalries in soccer history with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.
Following that era, the football icon had stints with Juventus, a return to Manchester United, and then to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. Even though the Saudi Pro League is considered a step down from European football, CR7 has achieved an extraordinary record of 55 goals in 56 appearances. Overall, while Ronaldo’s career may be entering its later stages, the 39-year-old shows no signs of retiring in the immediate future.
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