Cristiano Ronaldo says the 2026 World Cup will be his final tournament, speaking ahead of Portugal’s Round of 16 match against Spain on Monday. At 41, he has started all four matches and scored three goals as Portugal reach the knockout stage, while Ronaldo in
Cristiano Ronaldo walked into the media scrum with one message pinned to his chest, firm and unmistakable: 2026 will be his last World Cup.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Portugal’s Round of 16 showdown with Spain on Monday. the 41-year-old confirmed the final curtain on his World Cup career. “I want to enjoy it as much as possible, because it will be my last World Cup, yes. But I hope that tomorrow won’t be my last game in the World Cup,” Ronaldo said.
The timing lands with a particular weight. Portugal are already in the knockout stage, and Ronaldo has been central to getting them there. He has once again been a key figure throughout the tournament, starting all four matches and scoring three goals as his country advanced to the Round of 16.
But even with that clarity about the future, Ronaldo drew a line under the speculation. He is not looking to talk about retirement in general terms beyond the tournament itself.
“I’m always committed, body and soul, to helping the National Team. Whether I’m playing or not, I’ll always have an important role,” Ronaldo said. “I’ll finish when I want to, not when you want me to. It’s a waste of time to keep asking that question. But I don’t want to draw attention to that. The most important thing is tomorrow.”.
The statement adds to a broader sense of transition at soccer’s biggest stage. Ronaldo’s announcement comes in a World Cup already shaped by several iconic veterans. including Lionel Messi and Luka Modrić. who are widely expected to make what could be their final appearances on football’s biggest stage.
For Portugal, that shift isn’t just theoretical. In the Round of 32. Gonçalo Ramos—aged 25—came off the bench to score a dramatic 94th-minute winner. sending Portugal into the Round of 16. Ronaldo’s own momentum through the tournament sits alongside those emerging signs that the team is starting to build beyond its all-time leading scorer.
Still, Ronaldo isn’t speaking like a player preparing to step away. He believes Portugal have what it takes to keep going.
“If we didn’t have the idea that we could win the World Cup, we wouldn’t be here. It’s been a beautiful experience. We’ve improved game by game,” he said. “We know it’s a competition where it’s impossible to play well in every game. and it’s not easy for anyone; just look at who’s already been eliminated. I see the team as calm; we’ve trained well, we’ve prepared well.”.
The Round of 16 clash with Spain carries its own electricity for Ronaldo. The two nations last met at the 2018 tournament, when Ronaldo delivered one of the standout performances of his international career, scoring a hat trick in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Now, as the focus turns to Monday’s match, the stakes feel sharper: Ronaldo has already told the world where his World Cup story ends—2026—yet he is still pushing for “tomorrow” to extend it, one game at a time.
Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal Spain Round of 16 2026 FIFA World Cup last World Cup Gonçalo Ramos Lionel Messi Luka Modrić hat trick 2018 World Cup 3-3 draw