Ronaldo tipped to play for Portugal beyond the 2026 World Cup

Martin Macdonald

• 2 Dec 2025 05:15 CST
• 6 min read

Nieuws

Cristiano Ronaldo has been tipped to play for Portugal beyond the 2026 World Cup.

The legendary attacker is currently 40 years old and will be 41 by the time of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.

The next tournament after that will be Euro 2028 which will take place in the United Kingdom, and one former team-mate doesn't believe it is out of the question that Ronaldo could play for Portugal at the age of 43.

“If he can bring something to the squad, why not pick him?" Wes Brown said to GOAL.

"Does that mean he has to play every game? Look at the last competition, everyone was saying he shouldn’t play but he did ok. He knows the press are going to give him stick anyway as soon as he doesn’t score or give an assist. At the same time, he is still there for his younger team-mates and wants them to do well.

“In his mind he won’t be finished yet and he can still contribute to the team. I don’t think he will retire from international football until he has retired completely. He’s still got the energy, that same belief, and can still do it. There are not many people that can say that at that level.”

CR7 has enjoyed and continues to enjoy a distinguished career that includes multiple league and cup wins as well as five Champions League titles and a European Championships victory with Portugal.

On a personal level, he has won five Ballon d'Or trophies, is the top goalscorer in the history of international football and the Champions League, while he is the only player ever to score at least 100 goals for four different clubs.

No footballer has made more senior appearances or scored more goals than Ronaldo.

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A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)

Ronaldo to retire 'soon'?

He is in the twilight of his career, though, and will turn 41 in February even though he does plan to play at the 2026 World Cup at that age.

The time to hang up his boots is coming.

When asked in an interview with Piers Morgan what age he thinks he will retire, Ronaldo responded:

"Soon, but I think I will be prepared.

"It will be tough, it will be difficult. Probably I will cry. Yes. I’m an easy guy to cry, I don’t keep my feelings [inside]. I’m honest.

"I’m an open person.

"It will be very, very difficult. But, Piers, I prepared my future since I was 25, 26, 27.

"So, I think I will be capable to support that pressure."

Football is all Ronaldo has known since a young age and everyone knows how serious he takes competition as well as his own physical conditioning. His entire life for the past 20 years has been focused on him becoming one of the greatest players in history.

And, he doesn't think there's anything that can fill the void of playing football after retiring.

When asked the question by Morgan, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star replied:

"Nothing. Nothing, I think.

"The adrenaline that we have for football, to score a goal, will be gone.

"But, everything has a beginning and an end. So, I think I will be prepared.

"But, I have other passions, I’m going to have more time for me. I’m going to have more time for my family, to raise my kids.

"I want to be more of a family person, more present."

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