Ronaldo hints at retirement after likely final Saudi Pro League year

Cristiano Ronaldo has indicated that the current Saudi Pro League season will probably be his last as a professional footballer. The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward made the statement shortly after marrying his long-time partner, Georgina Rodriguez, in Portugal. “This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo told Vogue. The wording stops short of confirming an immediate retirement, but it is his clearest public indication yet that his playing career is nearing its end.

Ronaldo’s comments place the closing chapter of a 25-year senior career against the backdrop of a major personal change. He and Rodriguez married on Tuesday at a ceremony in the Portuguese resort of Cascais. Ronaldo said he was already planning for life beyond football and recognised that retirement would require more than simply stopping his daily routine as a player. “I have my future all mapped out,” he said. “I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard.”

The forward also described how he wants to spend his time once football no longer dominates his life. He mentioned travelling, watching sport and playing padel, a racket sport he enjoys. “Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one,” Ronaldo said. He added that he wanted to “continue to enjoy what I’ve earned — what we’ve earned”, after what he described as 25 years of sacrifice.

That career began with Sporting Lisbon, where Ronaldo made his senior debut in 2002. He later became a leading figure at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus before moving to Al-Nassr in January 2023. His honours include five Ballon d’Or awards, five Champions League titles and league championships in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia. He remains the leading scorer in men’s international football and has represented Portugal through several generations of players.

The numbers give the possible final season a separate significance. Ronaldo has scored 976 senior goals for club and country, leaving him 24 short of 1,000. Reaching that mark would add a landmark individual achievement to a career already defined by scoring records. It would also give his remaining matches a clear statistical target, although Ronaldo’s statement focused on the legacy he wants to leave rather than on one final total.

His Al-Nassr situation provides the immediate football context. The Saudi Pro League champions began their title defence against Al Fateh on Saturday, but Ronaldo did not play. He watched the match from the stands with his family as Al-Nassr opened the campaign with a victory. Ronaldo has one year remaining on his contract with the club, meaning the season ahead could be both the final year of his current agreement and the last playing season he intends to complete.

The timing also follows a changing international picture. Ronaldo has said that the 2026 World Cup will be his final appearance at the tournament. He is the only player to have scored in six World Cup editions, but Portugal’s most recent campaign ended in the round of 16. Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s long-time rival, has also spoken about uncertainty over how much longer he will continue, although Messi’s latest World Cup run took Argentina to the final while Portugal exited earlier.

For Portugal and Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s remarks create a season defined by transition as well as competition. He has not announced a retirement date, and “probably” leaves open the possibility of a change in plan. For now, his focus remains on the Saudi Pro League campaign, the final year of his Al-Nassr contract and the pursuit of 1,000 goals. The next major stage will be his return to the pitch after missing the opening match, with the possibility that every appearance could form part of the final season of one of football’s longest and most decorated careers.