TORONTO — Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to retire from international football at the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The revelation came from his sister, Katia Aveiro, who disclosed ahead of Portugal’s Round of 32 knockout match against Croatia that the current tournament serves as the player’s final campaign for his country.
The 41-year-old captain, who currently plays his club football for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, started for the national team at BMO Field in Toronto on Thursday night. Speaking to Portuguese broadcaster SportTV shortly before kick-off, Aveiro stated that she received information from a reliable source indicating that this World Cup represents Ronaldo’s final international appearances.
The announcement signals the imminent conclusion of a historic international career that began in 2003. Ronaldo stands as the most-capped player and the highest goalscorer in men’s international football history, having accumulated 231 appearances and scoring 145 goals for Portugal. During his twenty-three years with the national team, the forward led the country to its first major honors, including the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and the inaugural UEFA Nations League title.
The veteran attacker has faced intense scrutiny regarding his role and performance levels during the group stage of the tournament in North America. Ronaldo registered two goals in Portugal’s three opening matches, with both goals coming during a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. Despite the recent wave of public criticism, team manager Roberto Martínez has consistently maintained Ronaldo’s position in the starting lineup for the elimination phase.
While his international career with Portugal is winding down, the forward previously indicated a desire to continue playing domestic club football. Ronaldo has openly discussed his personal goal of reaching 1,000 career goals across all senior levels. He currently has 975 official goals to his name, leaving him twenty-five goals short of the historic milestone before entering the next domestic league season in Saudi Arabia.
