When Will Cristiano Ronaldo Retire? Al Nassr and Portugal Star Says This Season 'Probably My Last'
.jfif)
Speaking to Vogue in an interview published Sunday, August 16, the 41-year-old gave his clearest signal yet that the 2026/27 season could be his last as a professional footballer, coming just weeks after Portugal's run at his sixth and final World Cup ended in the Round of 16 against eventual champions Spain.
When Will Cristiano Ronaldo Retire?
"This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy," Ronaldo told Vogue. It's a firmer statement than he's made before. As recently as last November he said he expected to keep playing for "one or two more years," and for years before that he'd spoken only in vague terms about retiring "soon."
He also sounded like a man already planning for life after the game. "I have my future all mapped out," he said. "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."
The interview arrived in an eventful few weeks for Ronaldo. Portugal's World Cup ended with a 1-0 loss to Spain, who went on to win the tournament, in a match Ronaldo had already confirmed would be his last as he chases a first World Cup title of his career. Five days after the Vogue interview took place, he and longtime partner Georgina Rodriguez married in Cascais, Portugal.
When Is Cristiano Ronaldo's Last Match?
If this does turn out to be his final season, Ronaldo's last club match would likely come at the end of the Saudi Pro League campaign in spring 2027, with his Al Nassr contract running through June of that year.
There's also a possible international send-off to consider. Ronaldo has not ruled out continuing with Portugal beyond his final World Cup, and if Portugal reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League, they would play those semi-finals and the final next June, potentially giving Ronaldo one last international stage to close out his career on, should he choose to play on that long.
Cristiano Ronaldo Net Worth
Ronaldo is widely reported to be the richest footballer on the planet and among the wealthiest athletes in the world, with a net worth estimated at around $1.2 billion, having become football's first billionaire when he signed his contract extension with Al Nassr in June 2025.
Cristiano Ronaldo Career Earnings
Across his career, Ronaldo has earned well over $1 billion in total contractual income, with more than $850 million of that coming from salary and bonuses alone since financial tracking site Capology began recording data in 2013. Once his current Al Nassr deal runs its course, some estimates suggest he could become the first footballer to surpass $2 billion in combined career earnings from salary and endorsements.
How Many Goals Has Cristiano Ronaldo Scored?
Ronaldo carries well over 950 career goals for club and country into what may be his final season, with some counts placing him within striking distance of the symbolic 1,000 mark. He also holds the all-time record for men's international goals, with well over 140 for Portugal, the most of any player in the history of the sport.
How Many Trophies Has Cristiano Ronaldo Won?
Across his career, Ronaldo has won 34 major trophies for club and country. The centrepiece is five Champions League titles, four of them with Real Madrid, alongside a European Championship and a UEFA Nations League with Portugal.
| Team | Competition | Times Won | Years Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sporting CP | Portuguese Super Cup | 1 | 2002 |
| Manchester United | Premier League | 3 | 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09 |
| Manchester United | FA Cup | 1 | 2003/04 |
| Manchester United | EFL Cup | 2 | 2005/06, 2008/09 |
| Manchester United | Champions League | 1 | 2007/08 |
| Manchester United | FIFA Club World Cup | 1 | 2008 |
| Manchester United | Community Shield | 1 | 2007 |
| Real Madrid | La Liga | 2 | 2011/12, 2016/17 |
| Real Madrid | Copa del Rey | 2 | 2010/11, 2013/14 |
| Real Madrid | Spanish Super Cup | 2 | 2012, 2017 |
| Real Madrid | Champions League | 4 | 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 |
| Real Madrid | UEFA Super Cup | 2 | 2014, 2017 |
| Real Madrid | FIFA Club World Cup | 3 | 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| Juventus | Serie A | 2 | 2018/19, 2019/20 |
| Juventus | Coppa Italia | 1 | 2020/21 |
| Juventus | Italian Super Cup | 2 | 2018, 2020 |
| Al Nassr | Saudi Pro League | 1 | 2025/26 |
| Al Nassr | Arab Club Champions Cup | 1 | 2023 |
| Portugal | UEFA European Championship | 1 | 2016 |
| Portugal | UEFA Nations League | 1 | 2019 |
Ronaldo's longtime rival for the title of the sport's greatest ever player, Lionel Messi, has also faced growing questions over his own future in recent weeks, following the death of his father, Jorge. Whatever comes next for either of them, the two remain the only men to have appeared at six World Cups apiece, a fitting final chapter for a rivalry that has defined more than fifteen years of the sport.