After more than 25 years dedicated to professional football, Cristiano Ronaldo is beginning to contemplate more clearly a scenario that for a long time seemed distant: the end of his extraordinary career.

The Portuguese star, who recently played in his sixth World Cup with Portugal, spoke about his next steps and acknowledged that the end could be much closer than expected.

Is he opening the door to retirement?

Cristiano directly addressed the possibility of retirement during an interview with Vogue, in which he also spoke about his family life and his plans for the coming years.

“This will probably be my last year in football, and I want to leave an incredible legacy,” the Portuguese forward said.

If that scenario comes to pass, Ronaldo could bring his career to an end when his current contract with Al Nassr expires in 2027, when he will be 42 years old.

The 2026 World Cup may have marked another farewell

Cristiano played in his sixth World Cup in 2026, but Portugal were eliminated by Spain in the Round of 16. After the match, the forward all but brought his World Cup journey to a close by confirming that it had been his final tournament of its kind.

While his international career appears to be approaching its definitive conclusion, a possible date for his farewell at club level is now also beginning to take shape.

One final milestone is still within reach

The forward has scored 976 official goals, leaving him just 24 goals away from reaching the historic 1,000-goal milestone.

If he ultimately plays the entire 2026/27 season with Al Nassr, he will have one final opportunity to chase a figure that would add another chapter to a career in which he has already won five Ballon d'Or awards and 37 trophies across club and international football.

Cristiano has yet to confirm a definitive date for his retirement, but for the first time, the horizon appears clearly defined. Next year could become the final chapter of one of the most extraordinary careers in football history.