Dallas, July 6, 2026: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the final World Cup of his career, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable journey that has spanned a record six appearances at football’s biggest tournament.
The 41-year-old made the announcement on the eve of Portugal’s Round of 16 clash against Spain in Dallas, saying he would leave the game with no regrets after a trophy-laden career at club and international level.
“Let this be my last World Cup; it is my last World Cup, and I hope tomorrow won’t be my last match,” Ronaldo told reporters at the end of his press conference, drawing applause from journalists.
Earlier in the interaction, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward had initially avoided confirming whether the tournament would be his last, even though he would be 45 by the time the next World Cup is held in 2030.
“I will finish when I choose. You always ask the same question: is this the last one? We will see. I don’t want to draw attention to this, the most important thing is to play well tomorrow,” he said.
Ronaldo said he would leave football with a clear conscience, regardless of how Portugal’s campaign ends.
“I’m going to be perfectly honest, regardless of what happens tomorrow, Cristiano is going to leave with a clear conscience,” he said. “I have given all I could to football. It’s my passion to play for so many years. I didn’t do it out of need; I’m doing well in life. It’s about passion. I play for the national team and I love to play football.”
He added that he did not want to burden himself with pressure over winning the tournament.
“Regardless of what happens tomorrow, I’m not going to exert pressure on myself that I must win. You have to enjoy every match at a huge competition like the World Cup,” he said. “I think I’m not doing so bad. I’ve scored three goals. Others have done better, but I think I’m doing not so bad.”
A relaxed Ronaldo also said he was enjoying the current World Cup more than his previous five appearances and expressed confidence in Portugal’s chances against Spain.
“If we didn’t have this belief, we wouldn’t be here,” he said. “It’s been a beautiful experience, and we’re getting better in every match.
“We know this is a tough competition and it’s impossible to always do well. Some good teams have been eliminated and that says everything. The team is well, calm and well prepared. We’re going to face a difficult team, but I think we will be prepared.”
