Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that the 2026/27 season could be his final one as a professional footballer, bringing the legendary Al Nassr and Portugal forward closer to the end of a career that has spanned more than two decades.
Speaking in a recent interview with Vogue, the 41-year-old said, “This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy.” While Ronaldo has not announced a definitive retirement date, his comments mark his clearest indication yet that he could walk away from the game at the end of the current season.
Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr currently runs until June 2027, meaning he could finish his club career with the Saudi side. He is also closing in on another major milestone, with 1,000 career goals within reach. Reuters reports that he has scored 976 goals for club and country so far.
Ronaldo’s potential retirement would bring an end to one of football’s most decorated careers. Since making his senior debut with Sporting CP in 2002, he has gone on to play for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al Nassr, winning major domestic and European trophies along the way.
He has won five Ballon d’Or awards, five UEFA Champions League titles and league championships in England, Spain and Italy, while also lifting the European Championship with Portugal in 2016.
His move to Al Nassr in 2023 opened a new chapter in Saudi football, with Ronaldo becoming one of the biggest names to join the Saudi Pro League. He has continued to score at an impressive rate, reaching 100 goals for the club and remaining central to Al Nassr’s ambitions.
At the international level, Ronaldo has also cemented his place in history. He is the men’s international football record-holder for goals, with 146 for Portugal, and the 2026 World Cup was his sixth and final appearance at the tournament.
Now, with what could be his final season ahead, Ronaldo appears focused on enjoying life beyond football. He has spoken about spending more time with his family, travelling and playing padel, while hoping to leave behind what he described as a “spectacular legacy.”
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