Cristiano Ronaldo hints at retirement, says upcoming year could be his last

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A ‌five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo started his career at Sporting CP before ​competing with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. File. | Photo Credit: Reuters

“This is probably my last year ​of football, and I want to ‌leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo, 41, told ​Vogue in an interview published ⁠on Sunday (August 16, 2026).

Ronaldo, whose Al Nassr contract runs until June 2027, previously has stopped short of ‌giving a timeline of when he’d be ready to call ‌it a career.

Ronaldo announced his ‌retirement ⁠from World Cup play but ⁠did not close the door on making future appearances for the national team. He is Portugal’s ​all-time leader in ‌caps (233) and goals (146) and in 2026 joined Argentina’s Lionel Messi as the only man to appear in six World ‌Cups.

Ronaldo scored three goals in the ​2026 World Cup but was the subject of criticism from disappointed ⁠fans.

“I have my future all mapped out,” Ronaldo told Vogue . “I have so ‌many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard.

“Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just ‌one. And also have more fun, travel ​more, watch and play padel, which I really like, and continue to ⁠enjoy what I’ve earned — what we’ve earned. Because after ⁠all it’s been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice,” he added.

A ‌five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo started his career at Sporting CP before ​competing with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

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