Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his last. He told the media ahead of Portugal’s Round of 16 match against Spain that it was his final tournament.
Ronaldo is 41 years old. If he were to return for the 2030 World Cup, he would be 45. He would become the second-oldest player ever in the tournament’s history.
His sister Katia indicated earlier that Ronaldo was likely to step away from international football after this tournament. She said she believed this was his last dance with the national team.
Ronaldo has not won a World Cup in his career. He played in more World Cup tournaments than any other player in history.
He may not retire from professional football entirely. He is expected to continue playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. He recently won the league title with the club. He did not confirm whether he has retired from international football completely after the Spain defeat.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Sister Confirms 2026 World Cup Will Be His Final Tournament
Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, confirmed that the 2026 World Cup would be his last tournament with the Portugal national team. She spoke to reporters in Toronto ahead of Portugal’s Round of 32 match against Croatia.
She said the most important thing was to enjoy the twenty-something years they had lived. She said she was incredibly proud and had confidence in him. She said Ronaldo was confident and less nervous than his family.
When asked if he would continue to Euro 2028, she said she believed this was his farewell from the national team. She said she had the information from a reliable source and described it as the “Last Dance” at the World Cup.
She also addressed criticism Ronaldo had received at the tournament. She said for intelligent people who love football, they have to like Ronaldo. She said he had been dominating for more than 20 years. She said criticism would never affect their happiness.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals at the 2026 World Cup. He scored two against Uzbekistan and one against Croatia. His performance at the tournament ended with Portugal’s Round of 16 loss to Spain.
Against Uzbekistan, Ronaldo scored his first goal of the tournament. He scored his second later in the same match, becoming the oldest player in World Cup history to score a brace. He also became the first player to score in six different World Cups.
Against Croatia, Ronaldo scored his first-ever World Cup knockout stage goal. It came from a penalty after he had a goal ruled out for offside moments earlier. The goal made him the oldest goalscorer in World Cup knockout history at 41 years and 147 days.
Ronaldo was held scoreless in Portugal’s opener against DR Congo. He also failed to score against Spain in the Round of 16, with two shots on target but no goals.
Across his six World Cup appearances, Ronaldo scored 11 goals. He scored one in 2006, one in 2010, one in 2014, four in 2018, one in 2022 and three in 2026.
His total international goal tally stands at 146 in 232 appearances. He is the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football.
Ronaldo has scored 450 goals for Real Madrid, 145 for Manchester United, 129 for Al Nassr, 101 for Juventus and 5 for Sporting CP. He is chasing 1,000 official career goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Roberto Martínez Face Criticism After Portugal’s World Cup Exit
Portugal’s World Cup exit has sparked criticism of both Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Roberto Martínez. Spain won 1-0 with a stoppage-time goal from Mikel Merino.
The defeat marked Ronaldo’s eighth World Cup loss, tying him for the most losses by an individual player in tournament history. His international career finishes with 146 goals in 233 appearances.
Former England striker Chris Sutton criticised Martínez on BBC, saying he pandered to Ronaldo. He said Martínez’s job was to put the best team out for Portugal and he failed to do so. He called the management “scandalous” and “pathetic.” He also referenced Martínez’s time with Belgium’s golden generation, calling them “Belgian buffoons.”
Wayne Rooney said this was the start of a new era. He said other players had felt in Ronaldo’s shadow and now it was time for senior players to take responsibility and younger players to come through.
Martínez confirmed he would step down after the match. He said his contract ended that day and it was the end of the cycle. He said he came to Portugal to win the World Cup and because he had not won it, it would not make sense to continue.
Spain will face the winner of USA vs Belgium in the quarter-finals.
FAQs.
Q. Will Cristiano Ronaldo play at the 2030 FIFA World Cup?
A. No. Ronaldo has confirmed the 2026 World Cup was his last
Q. How old would Cristiano Ronaldo be at the 2030 World Cup?
A. Ronaldo would be 45 years old.
Q. How many goals did Cristiano Ronaldo score?
A. Ronaldo scored three goals.
Q. Will Cristiano Ronaldo continue playing club football?
A. Yes, Ronaldo is expected to continue playing for Al-Nassr.
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