By Olukayode Olumuyiwa
In a moment that felt less like an interview and more like a quiet farewell, Cristiano Ronaldo sat down with Tourise in Riyadh and spoke the words millions of football fans have dreaded for years: “I will retire soon.”
The 40-year-old Portuguese legend, still cutting a sharp figure in a tailored navy suit, didn’t flinch when asked about his future. “I did and gave everything for football in the last 25 years,” he said, his voice steady but reflective. “It’s probably one or two years. For sure, this will be my last World Cup, definitely.”
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be Ronaldo’s final bow on the global stage. A tournament he has chased with the same hunger that defined his teenage years in Madeira. A stage where he has scored 8 goals across five editions — but never lifted the trophy.
“I’m really enjoying the moment,” he added with a half-smile, the kind that comes from a man who knows his story is nearly written.
Still Scoring, Still Leading
Ronaldo’s numbers this season with Al-Nassr silence any talk of decline. Twelve goals in fifteen matches. A hat-trick against Al-Fateh last month. A curling free-kick against Al-Hilal that had even the away fans applauding.
His contract with the Saudi club runs until June 2026 — a neat alignment with his self-imposed deadline. After that? No hints of a sentimental return to Sporting CP. No whispers of a MLS swan song. Just a quiet acceptance that the end is near.
Portugal’s Eternal Captain
For Portugal, the news lands like a slow storm. Ronaldo remains the Seleção’s talisman — 133 international goals, a European Championship in 2016, a Nations League title in 2019. He is the country’s greatest export, a walking monument.
Coach Roberto Martínez, speaking after Portugal’s 5–1 win over Poland last month, said: “Cristiano decides when he stops. We just try to give him the platform to keep performing.”
A Legacy Beyond Numbers
Five Ballon d’Ors. Five Champions League titles. League titles in England, Spain, and Italy. Over 900 career goals. Records that may stand for decades.
But those who’ve watched him closely — from the rain-soaked pitches of Lisbon to Manchester, Madrid, Turin, and the sun-baked arenas of Riyadh — will remember something else: the obsession. The refusal to age gracefully. The 4 a.m. gym sessions. The ice baths. The diet charts taped to fridge doors.
The Final Chapter
As the interview wrapped, Ronaldo stood, shook hands, and walked back into the Riyadh night. No tears. No drama. Just a man at peace with his timeline.
One or two years. One last World Cup. One final chance to chase the one trophy that got away.
Football will move on. But for now, the world watches — and waits — for Cristiano Ronaldo’s last dance.
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