Cristiano Ronaldo hints at retirement, says upcoming year could be his last

A ‌five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo started his career at Sporting CP before ​competing with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. File. | Photo Credit: Reuters Cristiano Ronaldo is inching closer to retirement.“This is probably my last year ​of football, and I want to ‌leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo, 41, told ​Vogue in an interview published ⁠on Sunday (August 16, 2026).Ronaldo, whose Al Nassr contract runs until June 2027, previously has stopped short of ‌giving a timeline of when he’d be ready to call ‌it a career.Ronaldo announced his ‌retirement ⁠from World Cup play but ⁠did not close the door on making future appearances for the national team. He is Portugal’s ​all-time leader in ‌caps (233) and goals (146) and in 2026 joined Argentina’s Lionel Messi as the only man to appear in six World ‌Cups.Ronaldo scored three goals in the ​2026 World Cup but was the subject of criticism from disappointed ⁠fans.“I have my future all mapped out,” Ronaldo told Vogue. “I have so ‌many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard.“Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just ‌one. And also have more fun, travel ​more, watch and play padel, which I really like, and continue to ⁠enjoy what I’ve earned — what we’ve earned. Because after ⁠all it’s been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice,” he added.A ‌five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo started his career at Sporting CP before ​competing with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. Published - August 17, 2026 02:00 am IST