The world of football may be about to say goodbye to one of its greatest legends. At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo has raised concerns about the end of his brilliant career, admitting that he will likely hang up his cleats for good next year.
According to a report published by the newspaper La Nación, the Portuguese star and current captain of Al-Nassr made these revelations during an intimate interview with Vogue magazine, in which he reflected on his legacy, his recent sporting disappointments, and this new chapter in his personal life.
“I want to leave a spectacular legacy”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who burst onto the professional scene in 2002 with Sporting Lisbon before shining at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, acknowledged that his retirement is closer than ever.
“This is probably my last year in soccer, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” the forward told Vogue, according to La Nación. “Soccer could leave a huge void; I’ll have to fill my time in different ways… I want to have more fun, travel more, watch and play padel—which I really enjoy—and continue to enjoy what we’ve earned. After all, it’s been 25 years of great sacrifice.”
The announcement comes after a bitter disappointment with the Portuguese national team. Despite winning Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025, the 2026 World Cup was a major blow for the Portuguese star, after his team was eliminated in the round of 16 by Spain, thus dashing his last chance to lift the only major trophy missing from his impressive trophy case.
The Race to 1,000 Goals
Despite his impending retirement, “CR7” still has one monumental goal left to achieve while wearing the Al-Nassr jersey in the Saudi Pro League: the magical milestone of 1,000 professional goals. Currently, Lionel Messi’s longtime rival holds the impressive record of 976 official goals between club and national team, so this season in the Middle East will be crucial in his quest to reach that statistical milestone.
Wedding Bells in Portugal
The news of his possible retirement coincides with one of the happiest moments of the player’s personal life. As detailed in the report by La Nación, Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentine model Georgina Rodríguez finally tied the knot after more than a decade together.
The ceremony, organized with the utmost discretion, took place last Tuesday in the picturesque coastal town of Cascais, just outside Lisbon. Away from the media spotlight, the wedding was described by their representatives as a “private and intimate moment” attended exclusively by their five children.
The couple confirmed the news by sharing photos of their wedding rings on Instagram, putting an end to rumors of a massive wedding in their hometown of Funchal, Madeira, where hundreds of fans had gathered in vain outside the local cathedral.
Today, with a ring on his finger and 976 goal cheers in his throat, Cristiano Ronaldo begins to prepare for his final dance.
