Cristiano Ronaldo hints 2026/27 season could be his last in football

August 18, 2026 • 0 • min read

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Cristiano Ronaldo hints 2026/27 season could be his last in football

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Cristiano Ronaldo says 2026/27 is "probably" his final football season.
The 41-year-old wants to leave a "spectacular legacy."
Ronaldo is closing in on 1,000 career goals before retirement.

Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that the 2026/27 season could be the final campaign of his extraordinary professional football career.

The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward made the admission in an interview with Vogue, saying he wants to finish his career by leaving behind what he described as a "spectacular legacy."

This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy.

Whilst he stopped short of confirming a definite retirement date, the comments represent one of his clearest indications yet that the end of his playing career is approaching.

Ronaldo already has life after football in mind

Ronaldo has previously suggested that retirement could be relatively close, but his latest comments are more specific.

Rather than focusing on a loss of performance or physical ability, he spoke about the life he wants to build away from football.

I have my future all mapped out.

I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard.

The Portuguese superstar acknowledged that stepping away from football could leave a significant void after spending almost a quarter of a century at the highest level.

Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one.

Ronaldo mentioned travelling, watching and playing padel and generally enjoying the rewards of his long career among the activities he expects to pursue after retirement.

I want to continue to enjoy what I've earned - what we've earned. Because after all, it's been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice.

A career that has already entered football history

Should Ronaldo retire at the end of the 2026/27 season, he would leave the sport with one of the most decorated careers in its history.

He has won the Champions League five times, including once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid, whilst his domestic honours include eight league titles across England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia.

His international career has been equally significant. Ronaldo helped Portugal win Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League, whilst becoming one of the most prolific goalscorers international football has ever produced.

He also remains within reach of another extraordinary milestone. Ronaldo had reached 976 goals for club and country, putting the 1,000-goal mark within sight as he enters what could be his final season.

One major prize that has eluded him, however, is the FIFA World Cup.

Portugal's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign ended with a last-16 defeat to Spain, meaning the tournament in North America was almost certainly Ronaldo's final appearance at the competition.

Ronaldo's final season has already begun

The timing of Ronaldo's comments is significant because Al-Nassr's 2026/27 season is already under way.

Al-Nassr opened their Saudi Pro League title defence with a 3-0 victory over Al-Fateh on 15 August, with Ronaldo absent from the match after returning from the summer's World Cup and his recent wedding to Georgina Rodríguez.

The couple married in an intimate ceremony at their home in Cascais, Portugal, on 11 August, with their children present.

Ronaldo's immediate priority will therefore remain football, but his comments make clear that he is already thinking beyond it.

For a player who has spent 25 years building one of the sport's greatest legacies, the end may finally be approaching.

And with 976 goals already to his name, there is still a potentially historic milestone waiting before Cristiano Ronaldo finally walks away.