Cristiano Ronaldo set a deadline for his cryptic hint at retirement this Tuesday (11th), saying he will retire from playing in “a year or two”. He previously announced that he would retire “soon.”
The Portuguese striker, who has scored more than 950 goals for club and country, made his debut for Sporting as a teenager in 2002 and said in an interview that he would soon retire to spend time with his family.
Ronaldo has extended his contract with Saudi club Al Nasr until 2027, and the 40-year-old Portuguese is also targeting next year’s World Cup, the only major title missing from his trophy cabinet.
“For me, soon means 10 years from now… No, I’m just kidding,” Ronaldo said via video call at the World Summit on Tourism and Investment in Saudi Arabia.
“I’m really enjoying the moment. You know, in football, when you get to a certain age, you count the days very quickly.”
“At the moment I’m feeling very good. I’m scoring goals, I’m still feeling the speed and agility. I’m enjoying playing for the national team. But, of course, let’s be honest. Close probably means a year or two.”
2026 World Cup will be Ronaldo’s last
With Portugal on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo admitted the tournaments in the US, Canada and Mexico will be his farewell on soccer’s biggest stage.
“Definitely yes, because I will be 41 years old (at the World Cup),” said Ronaldo, who is the country’s all-time leading scorer with 143 goals.
“I have given everything for football. I have been involved in football for the past 25 years. I have done everything. I have many records in different scenarios for club and national team.
“I’m really proud of it. So let’s enjoy this moment and live in the moment.”
Cristiano JR follows in Ronaldo’s footsteps
Ronaldo said he knows he will go down in history as one of the greatest players of all time.
But will his son Cristiano Jr., who is following in his footsteps playing for Portugal’s Under-16 team, be a better player than his father?
“As humans, we don’t want anyone to be better than us. But I want my children to be better than me. I will never be jealous of him,” he said.
“I don’t want to put any pressure on that, because what I want for him is for him to be happy. It doesn’t matter if he wants to play soccer or some other sport. Be happy and be free. Don’t take any pressure from your father, because it’s tough.”
“This is a new generation, a different generation. They think differently, live differently. But as a father, I’m here to help him become what he wants to be. I will be his support.”
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