Ronaldo hints current Al-Nassr season could be his final year

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has indicated that the 2026-27 campaign could be his final season as a professional footballer. The Al-Nassr forward has scored 976 goals for club and country, leaving him 24 short of 1,000.

Ronaldo made the comments in an interview with Vogue after marrying his long-time partner, Georgina Rodriguez. He said he wanted to finish his career by creating a lasting legacy, while making clear that his retirement plan was not yet presented as an absolute decision.

The Portugal captain also described his plans for the period after football. He expects to keep busy through travel, watching and playing padel, and enjoying the rewards of a career that has demanded 25 years of sacrifice.

Ronaldo began his senior career at Sporting Lisbon in 2002 and later played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus before joining Al-Nassr in January 2023. He has won league titles in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia and is the leading scorer in men’s international football.

His Al-Nassr contract runs until June 2027, making the coming campaign potentially the final season of his current agreement. He did not play as the Saudi Pro League champions opened their title defence against Al Fateh on Saturday, instead watching from the stands with his family.

Ronaldo has also said that the 2026 World Cup is expected to be his last appearance at the tournament. He became the first player to score in six World Cup editions, adding another possible milestone to the closing phase of his playing career.