Cristiano Ronaldo says 2026 could be his final season
- Portuguese superstar CR7 says he is “most likely” approaching the end of his football career after more than 950 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo has said this year will “most likely” be his final year as a professional footballer, raising the prospect that one of the sport’s most decorated careers is nearing its end.
Speaking to Vogue magazine, the 41-year-old said: “This is probably my last year in football, and I want to leave an exceptional legacy.” He added that his life after football is already “completely planned.”
Ronaldo who has scored more than 950 goals for club and country had suggested earlier that retirement could come “soon” or within “a year or two.” The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward also said he wants to spend his post-football life travelling and playing padel, while pursuing other interests to avoid the void that can follow retirement.
“Football can leave a big void, you have to fill your time in different ways,” Ronaldo said, referring to a career built over 25 years of sacrifice. His comments have triggered mixed reactions among football fans, with some arguing that Ronaldo has already secured an exceptional legacy, while others questioned whether he will actually retire this season.
Ronaldo’s potential retirement comes after his recent participation in the FIFA World Cup for a sixth consecutive time and his marriage to Georgina Rodriguez in Portugal.
