Cristiano Ronaldo
In an interview with Vogue magazine, Ronaldo admitted that he is thinking more and more seriously about life after soccer. According to the Portuguese forward, he would like to end his career by leaving behind an “impressive legacy.”
“This is probably my last year in soccer,” Ronaldo said.
The forward noted that he already has a vision of what he’d like to do after retiring from professional sports. Among his plans are traveling more, spending time with his family, and playing padel tennis.
The Last Unconquered Goal
The soccer player’s statement came a few weeks after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, which Ronaldo also called the last of his international career.
However, after Portugal’s elimination, he did not immediately announce his retirement from the national team, stating that he did not intend to make such decisions in the heat of the moment.
One of Ronaldo’s possible personal milestones remains the 1,000-goal mark in his career. According to recent reports, he has scored 976 goals for his clubs and the national team. That means he is 24 goals away from that symbolic milestone, Reuters notes.
If the Portuguese star does indeed retire after the 2026–27 season, it will mark the end of a professional career that has spanned nearly a quarter of a century. During that time, Ronaldo has played for Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr, and has won the Ballon d’Or five times—in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.
For the world of soccer, Ronaldo’s possible retirement will mark the end of the career of one of the most recognizable and commercially successful athletes of the 21st century. In recent years, his move to Saudi Arabia has been one of the key events that has boosted the international profile of the local soccer league.
