Ronaldo confirms 2026 World Cup will be his last

Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed on Sunday that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the final one of his career, speaking to reporters ahead of Portugal's Round of 16 clash against Spain at Dallas Stadium on Monday.

"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 at a press conference, according to Sportsnet.sportsnet

The 41-year-old had first signaled in November 2025 that the 2026 tournament would mark his farewell from major international competition, but Sunday's comments came with renewed weight as Portugal prepare to face Spain in a win-or-go-home encounter.bbc

A Record-Breaking Swan Song

Ronaldo has used the tournament to further entrench his place in football history. He became the first male player to score in six different World Cups after netting twice in Portugal's 5-0 group-stage victory over Uzbekistan, a milestone confirmed by FIFA. He added a penalty in Portugal's 2-1 Round of 32 win over Croatia, bringing his 2026 tournament tally to three goals and his career World Cup total to 11.fifa+1

The forward holds the all-time men's international scoring record with 146 goals for Portugal across 232 appearances, according to UEFA.uefa

What Comes Next

While Ronaldo acknowledged the end of his World Cup journey, he made clear he is not yet ready to retire entirely. TSN reported that he insisted he is not stepping away from international football altogether after this tournament. Speaking at Sunday's press conference, he emphasized he would leave the game on his own terms.tsn+1

Portugal face Spain on Monday at 3 p.m. ET, a match that could serve as Ronaldo's final World Cup appearance if his side falls to the European champions. The clash pits Ronaldo, playing in his sixth World Cup, against Spain's 18-year-old Lamine Yamal in what has been billed as a meeting between generations.thenewsmill+1