Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that the current World Cup will be his last, while maintaining his focus on the match and not on his future.
The Portugal captain is undoubtedly one of the best players ever. He led his national team to the European title in 2016, the first in the country's history, and also won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025. With 11 goals scored in World Cup matches, he became the first male player to score in six different World Cups, having found the net in the current tournament.
Ronaldo made his World Cup debut in 2006, when he was playing for Manchester United. During his career he has also played for Real Madrid, Juventus, Sporting CP and currently for Al-Nassr, the team that won the title in Saudi Arabia last season. With a total of 976 career goals, his next move remains a mystery. When journalists pressed him about his footballing future, Ronaldo responded dryly, even making a joke to a reporter he recognized and who he thought he didn't like: "You've been trying to kill me for 23 years, but you must have understood that it's not worth it, it's a waste of time, but you keep trying...".
However, Portugal is not out of the World Cup yet. Monday's match will mark the first meeting between Spain and Portugal in a World Cup since the 2018 match, which ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw with a hat-trick from Ronaldo. "I don't think I did that badly... I scored three goals," the player said. "Others have scored more, but because they are playing very well. They feel very good. But let's see if I can score tomorrow."
<h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2> <h3>Why does this matter now?</h3> <p>This Cristiano Ronaldo update affects fans, teams, and the wider season picture — read above for the full breakdown.</p> <h3>What happens next?</h3> <p>Stay tuned for official updates and follow our coverage for the latest developments.</p>
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