Cristiano Ronaldo confirms 2026 World Cup will be his last as another legend announces retirement

6 Jul 2026 08:31 BST | 4 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, World Cup 2026 — © IMAGO

Suraj Radia | Editor

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Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his last but insists that he is happy with his career no matter what happens in Portugal’s round-of-16 match against Spain on Monday.

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Ronaldo could be set for his final ever World Cup game if Portugal lose to their rivals, having finally revealed that he will not play at the next tournament when he will be 45 years old.

“This will be my last World Cup; God willing tomorrow is not my last game,” he said. “And if it is, well, it is. If he has to go without lifting the only trophy to resist him, so be it. I’m not missing anything; God has been generous to me. I won’t be more Cristiano or less Cristiano if I win the World Cup or not.”

He added: “The day will come but, honestly, whatever happens tomorrow, I will leave with a clear conscious, not 100% but 1,000% because I have given everything to football. I don’t need it; I live well, but it’s about passion. I play football because I love it.

“They’ve tried to kill me for 23 years. There’s no point paying too much attention to it. It’s part of it … People in Portugal have faith, they never fail us, they’re always on our side, my side. All the rest is rubbish. It doesn’t matter at all.

“You have to enjoy every day, like the last World Cup, which it will be, but hopefully, hopefully, tomorrow is not the last day. Hopefully. And then you can kill me a bit more.”

Ronaldo reveals World Cup future as Neymar announces Brazil retirement

Ronaldo’s announcement was soon followed by Neymar also announcing he would be retiring from international football after Brazil’s stunning loss to Norway on Sunday night.

Neymar emotional as his World Cup dreams come to an end 💔🥺 pic.twitter.com/CkZUzwnCPX
— ESPN (@espn) July 5, 2026

Brazil missed a first half penalty through Bruno Guimaraes before Erling Haaland’s late double put Norway in control, with Neymar coming off the bench to pull a goal back from the spot in injury time.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side exit the tournament at the round of 16 stage and Neymar was seen in tears at the end of the game before the 34-year-old admitted his Brazil career was over at the same stadium where he made his international debut in 2010.

"I tried, I tried. Now it's over. I started here, I finished here,” Neymar said.

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