Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that the upcoming season will probably be the final year of his football career.
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that the upcoming season will “probably” be the final year of his extraordinary playing career, bringing retirement closer for one of football’s greatest-ever goalscorers.
The 41-year-old Portugal captain made the revelation in an interview with Vogue, admitting that he is now approaching the end of a career that began with Sporting in 2002. More than two decades later, Ronaldo remains one of the most recognisable and decorated players in the sport.
“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo said.
🚨🚨🎙️| Cristiano Ronaldo: “This is probably 𝐌𝐘 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐋, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy.”
“I have my future all mapped out. I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard.”
“Because football could leave… pic.twitter.com/Tf7MWYjEGe
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) August 16, 2026
Ronaldo has enjoyed a remarkable career with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al Nassr, collecting major domestic and European honours along the way. He has also won the Ballon d’Or five times and established himself as one of the most prolific goalscorers football has ever produced.
Despite his extraordinary list of achievements, one major trophy remains absent from Ronaldo’s collection: the World Cup. Portugal fell short at the 2026 tournament, meaning the forward was unable to add the biggest prize in international football to his already remarkable résumé.
Ronaldo currently has 976 goals for club and country and will begin the new season with Al Nassr chasing the extraordinary 1,000-goal milestone. Reaching four figures would provide a fitting landmark for the final stage of a career that has been defined by an almost unmatched obsession with scoring goals.
The Portuguese star also admitted that football could leave a significant void once he retires. He said he will need to find other ways to occupy his time, including travelling, watching and playing padel, a sport he has grown particularly fond of..
