Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time leading men's international goalscorer, has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup in North America will be his last for Portugal. The 41-year-old forward, currently playing for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, made the announcement in a press conference ahead of Portugal's round of 16 match against Spain on July 6, 2026. “Yes, it's my last one. Let go and enjoy it,” he said, adding that he would retire from international duty “when I want, not when you want.” The news marks the end of an era for one of football's most iconic figures, who has represented Portugal since his debut in 2003.
Ronaldo has amassed 232 caps for Portugal and scored 146 goals, making him the most prolific striker in the history of men's international football. At the 2026 tournament, he became the first man to score in six different World Cups, netting a brace against Uzbekistan in a 5-0 group-stage win and scoring a penalty against Croatia in the round of 32. He also reached 10 World Cup goals, surpassing the late Eusébio's Portuguese record of nine, set in 1966. At 41 years and 138 days old, Ronaldo became the second-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, behind Cameroon's Roger Milla (42 years, 39 days).
“Cristiano Ronaldo confirms 2026 World Cup is his last for Portugal – what it means and his career records explained.”
Ronaldo's international career began in 2003, and he has helped Portugal win Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League twice. His best World Cup performance came in 2006, when Portugal reached the semi-finals, losing 1-0 to France, and finished fourth after a 3-1 defeat to Germany in the third-place play-off. Portugal have never reached a World Cup final; their best finish was third in 1966, when they lost to eventual winners England in the semi-finals but beat the Soviet Union in the third-place match.
For UK readers, Ronaldo's World Cup farewell is particularly poignant because he spent six seasons at Manchester United (2003-2009 and 2021-2022), winning three Premier League titles and the Champions League. Many British fans remember his emergence as a teenage winger at Old Trafford and his transformation into a global superstar. His decision to end his international career after this tournament closes a chapter that began when he made his Portugal debut as a 18-year-old. While he may continue playing club football for another year or two—he said in November 2025 that he would retire from football “soon, probably one or two years”—his absence from the Portugal squad after 2026 will leave a void in the national team.
Q: How many goals has Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Portugal? Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 232 appearances for Portugal, making him the highest-scoring men's international footballer of all time. He has also scored 10 goals in World Cup tournaments, a Portuguese record.
Q: When will Ronaldo retire from football completely? Ronaldo has not set an exact date, but in November 2025 he said he would retire “soon, probably one or two years.” His current contract with Al Nassr runs until 2025, but he has indicated he may continue playing until 2027 or 2028.
Q: What records has Ronaldo broken at the 2026 World Cup? He became the first male player to score in six different World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026). He also became the second-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history at 41 years and 138 days, and set a Portuguese record with 10 World Cup goals.
Ronaldo's final World Cup match could come against Spain in the round of 16 on July 6, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. If Portugal win, they will advance to the quarter-finals. He has insisted that his focus is on helping the team progress, saying, “The mission is to advance, not for me to score.” Regardless of how far Portugal go, this tournament will be remembered as the last time the world sees Ronaldo in a Portugal shirt at a World Cup.