Ronaldo retired. Or just World Cup weary? · The Portugal Club Community

Ronaldo retired. Or just World Cup weary?

Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't retired from football altogether, but he has confirmed the end of a major chapter....

Ahead of Portugal's Round of 16 clash with Spain at the 2026 World Cup, the 41-year-old told reporters this would be his last World Cup appearance, saying he wanted to enjoy the tournament as much as possible while hoping it wouldn't end too soon.

He confirmed on July 5, 2026, that the World Cup was his final international tournament, arriving at it with Portugal's all-time records of 232 caps and 146 international goals, having appeared in a record six World Cups and become the first player to score in six different editions.

Portugal's tournament ended on July 6, when Ronaldo's run finished after Portugal lost to Spain 1-0 😭in the Round of 16 in Dallas. It was an emotional exit - he told reporters afterward that he was sad to be leaving the World Cup that way, that he'd given it his all and was leaving with a clear conscience, and that soccer sometimes means winning and sometimes losing.

Crucially, this is a retirement from the World Cup specifically, not from football or even necessarily from international duty entirely.

CR7 stayed coy on whether he'd retire from the sport altogether, saying only that it was his last World Cup and that he'd now take time to reflect with his family without making any rash decisions. He remains under contract with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, and some fans have speculated he may delay full retirement until he reaches 1,000 career goals, needing just 24 more to hit that milestone.

His World Cup career is now closed, but Cristiano Ronaldo the footballer is still very much active.

Here, in his own (Spanish!) words...

0 comments

Ronaldo retired. Or just World Cup weary?