Daijiworld Media Network - Lisbon
Lisbon, Aug 17: Cristiano Ronaldo has given his clearest indication yet that he could retire from professional football at the end of the 2026-27 season, saying it is “probably my last year”.
The 41-year-old Portugal captain, who continues to play for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, has previously acknowledged that retirement is approaching but had stopped short of setting a definite timeline for the end of his illustrious playing career.
Speaking to Vogue in an interview published on Sunday, Ronaldo opened up about his future while discussing his life with his wife Georgina Rodriguez. The couple recently tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Cascais, Portugal, on August 11, exactly 10 years after they first met.
“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo told Vogue.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had said last November that he expected to continue playing for another “one or two years”. He had also confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be his final appearance at the tournament.
Portugal were eliminated by Spain at the World Cup last month, but Ronaldo subsequently declined to reveal when exactly he planned to retire from professional football.
The veteran forward has now indicated that he has already started preparing for life after football and is looking forward to spending more time with his family.
“I have my future all mapped out,” Ronaldo said. “I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard.”
Ronaldo acknowledged that retiring from football could leave a significant void in his life after spending 25 years at the highest level.
“Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one,” he said, adding that he wants to have more fun, travel more, watch and play padel and continue enjoying what he and his family have earned.
“Because after all it's been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice,” he said.
Ronaldo's latest comments therefore provide the strongest indication so far that the 2026-27 season could be his final campaign as a professional footballer, potentially bringing an extraordinary 25-year senior career to an end.
He began his senior career with Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the world's leading players. He later joined Real Madrid and Juventus before moving to Al-Nassr in January 2023.
The most prolific period of Ronaldo's career came at Real Madrid, where he scored a club-record 450 goals in 438 appearances. He also won multiple Champions League titles, domestic league trophies and individual honours during his time with the Spanish giants.
Ronaldo has also enjoyed remarkable success with Portugal, becoming the country's all-time leading goalscorer and one of the most prolific international players in football history.
At the 2026 World Cup, his final appearance at the tournament, Ronaldo scored three goals as Portugal reached the Round of 16 before being eliminated by Spain.
If he follows through on his latest comments, the 2026-27 season could mark the end of one of the most decorated and enduring careers in modern football.