By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo says the 2026 World Cup will be his final tournament and that he plans to play “one or two more years”.
He was speaking during an interview at the TUTISE tourism forum in Saudi Arabia.
This will be his record sixth straight World Cup, which takes place in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Ronaldo, who plays his club football in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, is the all-time leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 – while he continues to pursue a milestone 1,000 career goals.
He said: “Definitely, yes. I will be 41 years old and I think [this] will be the moment in the big competition.”
“I’m enjoying my game in the national team and Al Nassr, but of course, let’s be honest when I mean soon it’s probably one, two years I’ll still be at the game.”
Asked how he will deal with the reality of hanging up his boots in the future, Ronaldo said: “It will be difficult? Yes. Probably will cry, yes. I’m an open person. It will be very, very difficult, yes.”
Ronaldo helped Portugal to the Euro 2016 title, but the World Cup is one of few major trophies missing from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s cabinet.
Last month, Ronaldo became the highest scorer in the history of World Cup qualifying when he scored twice against Hungary, taking his tally to 41 goals.