Cristiano Ronaldo confirms 2026 World Cup will be his last

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the final World Cup of his international career.

Speaking to the media ahead of Portugal’s quarter-final clash against Spain, the 41-year-old said he wants to enjoy every moment of the tournament and hopes his journey is not over just yet.

Ronaldo said that whenever the time comes to retire from international football, he will do so with complete satisfaction knowing he gave everything he had for his country and for the game.

“I play purely out of passion,” Ronaldo said, adding that he no longer feels the need to prove anything to anyone.

The Portuguese star has scored three goals at the 2026 World Cup so far. He became the first player to score in six different World Cup editions after netting twice against Uzbekistan in the group stage. He also scored his first-ever World Cup knockout-stage goal from the penalty spot against Croatia.

Ronaldo described this World Cup as the most emotional tournament of his career and said that criticism throughout his journey has helped him grow into a better player and person.