Cristiano Ronaldo has indicated that he could retire from professional football before the end of 2026, with the Portugal captain admitting that the current year may be his final season as a player.
The 41-year-old Al Nassr forward made the revelation in an interview with Vogue published on Sunday, although he stopped short of confirming a specific retirement date.
“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo said.
The statement represents his clearest indication yet that the end of his remarkable playing career is approaching. Ronaldo has previously spoken about retirement but had avoided committing to a definite timeline.
His contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr is currently scheduled to run until June 2027.
Ronaldo had said in November that he expected to continue playing for another one or two years and also confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be his final appearance at the tournament.
Portugal’s campaign ended with a defeat to Spain last month. Following the elimination, Ronaldo declined to reveal exactly when he intended to bring his international and club career to an end.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has now revealed that he has already started preparing for life away from professional football.
According to Ronaldo, he expects to devote more time to his family and pursue activities outside the sport after retirement.
“I have my future all mapped out,” he said.
The Portuguese superstar added that he has numerous plans to keep himself occupied once his football career comes to an end, noting that he does not expect to rely on just one activity to fill the gap left by football.
He mentioned travelling, spending time with his family and playing padel among the activities he hopes to enjoy more regularly.
Ronaldo also reflected on the sacrifices involved in reaching the highest level of the sport after spending roughly 25 years as a professional footballer.
His career began at Sporting CP before he moved to Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the world’s leading players. He later enjoyed a highly successful spell at Real Madrid before joining Juventus.
Ronaldo returned to Manchester United for a second spell before moving to Saudi Arabia, where his transfer to Al Nassr made him one of the biggest names in the Saudi Pro League.
With his 42nd birthday approaching, Ronaldo remains one of football’s most recognisable figures. His latest comments suggest that the sport could soon be preparing for the end of one of the most decorated careers in modern football.
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