(CNN) — Portugal superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will “definitely” be his last.
“I will be 41 years old and I think that will be the moment in the big competition,” Ronaldo told CNN’s Becky Anderson in an interview at the Tourism Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.
When asked about his retirement plans, Ronaldo said, “I’m enjoying the moment, but when I say soon, it’s really soon because I gave everything for football.” The all-time leading goal scorer in international soccer history added, “I’m in the game for the last 25 years. I did everything. I have many records in different scenarios with clubs and also with national teams. I’m really proud, so let’s enjoy the moment, live the moment.”
Ronaldo has scored 143 international goals and is the first-ever male player to score at five World Cups. The expanded 48-team tournament—the largest in history—is set to kick off on June 11, 2026, in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The World Cup draw will take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Earlier this year, Ronaldo became the sport’s first billionaire player following a contract he signed with Al Nassr, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Ronaldo also opened up about his hopes for his son, Cristiano Jr., who currently plays in Portugal’s under-16 club. “Human beings, we don’t want anybody being better than us,” Ronaldo said. “But from my point of view, I wish if my kids will be better than me, I’m never going to be jealous of him, trust me.”
He emphasized that all he wants is for his son to be happy and to avoid the pressures that come with being his child. “As a father, I’m here to help him be whatever he wants to be.”
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