Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted at retiring from football, stating that the upcoming year could be his last.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has indicated that his playing career may soon come to an end, revealing that the upcoming year could be his last. Speaking to Vogue in an interview published on Sunday (August 16, 2026), the 41-year-old stated, “This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy.”
Although Ronaldo's current contract with Al Nassr runs through June 2027, he had previously stopped short of providing a timeline for when he would step away from the game. The forward originally started his professional career at Sporting CP before competing with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
Ronaldo has already announced his retirement from World Cup play, having scored three goals in the 2026 World Cup amid criticism from disappointed fans. In 2026, he joined Argentina's Lionel Messi as the only men to feature in six World Cups. Ronaldo remains Portugal’s all-time leader in caps (233) and goals (146), and he has not entirely ruled out future appearances for the national team.
Looking ahead to life after football, Ronaldo mentioned that his future is fully mapped out after 25 years of sacrifice. “Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one. And also have more fun, travel more, watch and play padel, which I really like, and continue to enjoy what I’ve earned — what we’ve earned,” Ronaldo added.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Football. Photo courtesy The Hindu Football.