Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that the 2026–27 season could be his final year in professional football, saying he wants to leave the game with a legacy that reflects a career spanning more than two decades.
The Portugal captain, who has won five Ballon d’Or awards and five UEFA Champions League titles, made the comments in an interview with Vogue while discussing his wedding.
“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo said.
The 40-year-old has spent almost four years with Saudi Pro League champions Al-Nassr, where he has one year remaining on his contract. He has also won league titles in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia and remains the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s international football.
Ronaldo is now just 24 goals away from reaching 1,000 senior career goals, a milestone that would add another remarkable achievement to one of football’s most decorated careers.
The Portuguese star acknowledged that retirement would create a major change in his life after roughly 25 years at the highest level.
He said he already has plans for life after football, including travelling, spending more time enjoying his family life and playing padel, a sport he has developed a strong interest in.
“For 25 years with a lot of sacrifice,” Ronaldo said, reflecting on the career he has built.
His comments come as questions about the end of football’s greatest modern rivalry continue to grow. Long-time rival Lionel Messi, who has won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards, has also recently indicated uncertainty over how much longer he will continue playing.
The two superstars’ most recent World Cup experiences were dramatically different. Messi scored eight goals as Argentina reached the final, while Ronaldo’s Portugal were eliminated in the round of 16.
Ronaldo had previously avoided confirming whether the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be his final appearance at the tournament, saying he would make the decision with his family and approach it with a “calm head.”
The forward was absent from Al-Nassr’s opening Saudi Pro League match of the season against Al Fateh on Saturday, watching the defending champions’ victory from the stands with his family.
For now, Ronaldo remains focused on the final chapter of a career that has produced goals, trophies and records across Europe, Saudi Arabia and the international stage.
And with 1,000 career goals within reach, his potential final season could yet provide one of the most memorable endings in football history.
