Will Cristiano Ronaldo retire after Portugal’s exit from FIFA World Cup 2026?
(Courtesy : Getty)
Cristiano Ronaldo previously indicated that the ongoing World Cup would be his last one.
Portugal suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Spain in their Round of 32 clash in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 6. With the Selecao das Quinas being knocked out of the expanded 48-team edition, questions have been raised over whether the great Cristiano Ronaldo will call time on his storied career.
Before the Spain game, Ronaldo confirmed in a press conference that this year’s World Cup – his sixth – would be his last one. “Let this be my last World Cup; it is my last World Cup, and I hope tomorrow won’t be my last match,” he said.
“I will retire when I want, not when you want. Whether I play or I stay on the bench, the influence will not change,” he added. “I am not the player I used to be, but I am not doing too bad. I keep scoring goals. If I can’t score, it will be another team-mate to score, and we hope to go to the next round. The mission is to advance, not for me to score.”
Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes oldest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup knockouts
How did Cristiano Ronaldo fare in FIFA World Cup 2026?
Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed a mixed campaign in his final World Cup. He started the tournament with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo, where his performance drew criticism from many, including Thierry Henry.
The 41-year-old bounced back with two goals in a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. However, he was once again anonymous in a goalless draw with Colombia.
In the Round of 32 match against Croatia, the Al-Nassr forward had just one touch in the opposition box. However, that touch was the penalty he scored to level the match at 1-1, before Goncalo Ramos scored a late winner for the Selecao.
Ronaldo is the ninth-highest scorer in the quadrennial tournament with 11 goals. Overall, he has scored 164 times for his nation in 223 caps.
At the club level, he won his first league title in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr in 2025-26. He scored 30 goals in 37 matches across all competitions.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo retire after Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 exit?
Ronaldo confirmed before the Spain match that this would be his last World Cup, strongly suggesting retirement from international football.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.