Cristiano Ronaldo to retire after the 6th FIFA World Cup at the age of 41. The world reacts

The legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed his plan to retire after the 6th World Cup at the age of 41. “What I mean by soon is probably one or two years,” he said. 

Cristiano Ronaldo to retire in 2026

• The legendary Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed his plans to retire after the FIFA World Cup 2026. The upcoming World Cup will be his 6th and the last. The 40-year-old striker has scored 953 goals for club and country. 

🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo: “I will retire soon… I did and gave everything for football in the last 25 years”.

“It’s probably one or two years. For sure this will be my last World Cup, definitely”.

“I’m really enjoying the moment”, told Tourise in Riyadh. pic.twitter.com/reZO4PlLGk

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 11, 2025

• The FIFA World Cup 2026 will begin on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Mexico City, Mexico (Estadio Azteca), and the final match will be held on  Sunday, July 19, 2026, in New York/New Jersey, USA (MetLife Stadium). The tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 
• In an interview at the Tourise Summit in Riyadh, he was asked about the World Cup 2026, to which he revealed it will be his last. “Definitely, yes. I will be 41 years old, and I think this will be the moment in the big competition.” He clarified that by soon he means one or two years. "Let's be honest, when I mean soon, it's probably one or two years, I'll still be at the game," he said. 
• “I gave everything for football. I’ve been in the game for the last 25 years. I did everything. I have many records in the different scenarios in the clubs and also in the national teams.” He spoke about how he had been planning his post-football life. 

🇵🇹⚽️Soccer star #Ronaldo clarifies how SOON he will retire pic.twitter.com/HYDtsJlG1X

— ShanghaiEye🚀official (@ShanghaiEye) November 12, 2025

• In an interview with Piers Morgan, he said, “But, I have prepared my future since 25, 26, 27 years old. I think I will be capable to support that pressure. Nothing will compare to the adrenaline you have to scoring a goal in football.” He said after the retirement, he can have more time for his family, “But everything has a beginning and everything has an end. I’m going to have more time for myself, for my family, to raise my kids.”
• His elder son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. is 15 years old. He was born on June 17, 2010, in La Mesa, California, USA. He plays for Al-Nassr's youth academy and also for Portugal's U16 national team. He started working towards the ambition of becoming a footballer since childhood. Ronaldo, on many occasions, has said he hopes Jr becomes even better than him, and he would not be jealous" 
• Fans are upset upon the announcement and have expressed their thoughts on social media. One user on X commented, "The world will never see a player better at bicycle kick than Cristiano Ronaldo" Another user wrote "Unpopular opinion: Cristiano Ronaldo is the guy who took football fame and made it truly global and modern. He basically showed the world how a footballer could become a billionaire superstar brand, making the game famous in ways it never was before."

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