Ronaldo says 'probably my last year' of football
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Cristiano Ronaldo told Vogue this is "probably my last year" of football, saying he wants to "leave a spectacular legacy" — his clearest retirement signal after years of hedging.
- Ronaldo said his "future is all mapped out," with plans to spend more time with family, play padel, and travel after 25 years in the game.
- Al Nassr holds Ronaldo through a contract that runs until June 2027, though he said last November he expected to play just "one or two years" more.
- Ronaldo previously confirmed the 2026 World Cup would be his last tournament; Portugal were eliminated by Spain in the round of 16 after he scored three goals.
- The Vogue interview took place five days before Ronaldo married long-term partner Georgina Rodríguez in Cascais, Portugal.
- Lionel Messi also cast doubt on his future this week, saying he was unsure how long he would keep playing after the death of his father Jorge.
- Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d'Or winner whose nine years at Real Madrid produced a club-record 450 goals in 438 appearances.
Why it matters: Ronaldo's Al Nassr contract runs through June 2027, but if he retires after this season, the Saudi club loses a five-time Ballon d'Or winner who scored 450 goals for Real Madrid. With Messi also casting doubt on his future this week, football faces losing both of its defining figures of the past two decades within days of each other.
Ask SkimNews
