"The 2026 North-China World Cup is my last World Cup."
Cristiano Ronaldo (40, Alnasr) has confirmed next year's World Cup as his last dance.
In an interview with 'Tourism Summit' held in Riyadh on the 12th (Korea Standard Time), the haphazard Ronaldo hinted that he was preparing for the last chapter of his soccer life, saying, `I will retire in a year or two.' Asked if the 2026 World Cup was the last, he immediately answered "Definitely yes". "I'll be 41 then, and this tournament will be my last big stage."
The 2026 World Cup in North Korea and the U.S., which will be held in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. next year, will be his sixth World Cup. Ronaldo, who currently plays for Alnasr in Saudi Arabia, has 143 A-match goals, the most in men's soccer history, and is still trying to reach an unprecedented milestone, with 953 goals in total, which no one has scored in human history.
Ronaldo, who has lifted numerous trophies through prestigious clubs around the world, including Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, said in an interview last week, `I will retire soon' and clarified the timing of his future retirement, saying, `"What I mean by 'soon' means I will probably play for another year or two.'
Ronaldo led Portugal to the Euro 2016 championship and built a golden tower in national team history, but the World Cup trophy is still the only thing missing in his brilliant career. Winning the World Cup is a long-cherished dream. For the five-time Ballon d'Or winner and world football icon, the 2026 World Cup is expected to be a 'last challenge' and 'last chance'.
Portugal, led by Roberto Martinez, have yet to confirm their progress to the finals. However, if he wins the match against the Republic of Ireland on the 14th, he will confirm his qualification for next year's World Cup finals.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
