The Farewell of the Eternal No. 7

The end of an era. From Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed what many feared: the 2026 World Cup will mark the end of his international career. At 39 years old, and with his eyes set on turning 41 when the tournament takes place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the Al Nassr striker admitted that the end is drawing near.

“Definitely yes,” replied the Portuguese when asked if the next World Cup would be his last. “I’ll be 41, and I think that will be the moment,” he said during a tourism forum in Saudi Arabia, making it clear that his farewell is on the horizon.

“One or Two More Years”

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also spoke about his professional career’s future:

“Let’s be honest, when I say soon, I probably mean one or two more years.”

Ronaldo admitted that at his age, time passes faster, but he insisted he feels fit and continues to enjoy football both at Al Nassr and with the Portugal national team.

“In football, I try to enjoy the goals. I’m 40 years old and I try to enjoy the moment. My body feels good. I want to keep scoring and helping the team. This is my life,”
said the Portuguese captain, who has already scored 953 official goals, edging closer to the mythical 1,000-goal milestone.

Portugal and the Unfinished Dream

Although Portugal has not yet qualified for the 2026 World Cup, they could secure their place with a win over Ireland this Thursday. For CR7, it will be his sixth and final opportunity to claim the one title missing from his trophy cabinet. His best finish came in Germany 2006, when Portugal fell to France in the semifinals.

The Icon of Saudi Arabia

After a legendary career at Manchester United and Real Madrid, Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in 2023, becoming the face of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious football project to establish itself as a global powerhouse.

Driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Vision 2030 plan aims to diversify the nation’s economy beyond oil and open the country to the world through sports. While critics accuse the kingdom of sportswashing, Cristiano Ronaldo remains focused on what he does best: making history until the very last minute.