The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the final one in the storied career of Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Yes, it’s my last one. Let’s go and enjoy it.” Ronaldo said in a press conference on Sunday.
Ronaldo has bagged three goals so far this tournament, scoring twice in a group stage dismantling of Uzbekistan while finding the back of the net from the penalty spot in the team’s Round of 32 win against Croatia.
Ronaldo also became the first player ever to score in six different World Cup campaigns. He is sitting on 11 goals at the tournament for his storied career.
On Thursday, Portugal narrowly survived Croatia 2-1 in Toronto in one of the best games of the tournament thus far. The Portuguese trailed 1-0 in the second half, but a goal by Ronaldo on a penalty kick - his first ever in the World Cup knockout stage - tied the game, and a picture-perfect header from Goncalo Ramos in the fourth minute of stoppage time gave Portugal the win.
Portugal drew twice and picked up one win during the preliminary round, finishing second in Group K behind Colombia.
Ronaldo and his side will now play Spain in the Round of 16 in what could be the 41-year-old’s final World Cup game.
