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January 23, 2026
Ronaldo has never followed football’s usual timelines. At 40, he remains decisive, driven, and still central to Portugal’s plans. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, the question is no longer about ability, but about timing, and whether the game’s most relentless competitor is finally preparing to let go...
There’s a quiet tension that follows Cristiano Ronaldo these days. Not the kind you feel during a knockout match or a last-minute penalty, but something more reflective — the sort of atmosphere often discussed across global football markets, from elite European nights to platforms like 1x cambodia. The sense that football’s most relentless competitor is inching closer to the end, even if he refuses to say it out loud. At 40, Ronaldo is still scoring, still starting, still shaping games. He does it in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, and he still does it every time he pulls on Portugal’s shirt. Yet with the 2026 World Cup approaching, the biggest question around him isn’t about goals or records anymore. It’s about timing — and whether the sport’s most famous overachiever is finally prepared to walk away.
Cristiano Ronaldo - World Cup title? Can it happen?
Ronaldo has never liked the idea of football deciding things for him. Throughout his career, he’s insisted on being in control — of his body, his schedule, and ultimately, his exit. That mindset hasn’t changed. Publicly, he continues to repeat the same line: he still feels useful, motivated, competitive. As long as that’s true, retirement can wait.
But there’s been a subtle shift. The certainty of the past — I will keep going — has softened into something more human. Ronaldo now acknowledges that the end is closer than the beginning, that when it comes, it will be emotional. He speaks less about breaking new ground and more about enjoying what remains. For a player who once chased perfection daily, that change in tone matters.
If there is a natural closing chapter, it’s the 2026 World Cup. Not because Ronaldo has said it will be his last — he rarely deals in absolutes — but because the symbolism is impossible to ignore. A sixth World Cup would place him alone in history, a milestone followed closely across the global football landscape, from national team camps to international platforms such as 1xbet cambodia login. One final run with Portugal. One last shot at the only major trophy missing from his cabinet.
For Portugal, the tournament represents transition. For Ronaldo, it represents something closer to closure. He won’t be the undisputed centre of the team anymore, but he doesn’t need to be. His value now lies as much in presence and experience as in goals. The question is whether that role satisfies a player who built his legacy on being decisive.
🚨🇸🇦 Cristiano Ronaldo: "I don't know if I will retire soon, in two or three years... but probably I will retire here at Al Nassr".
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 27, 2024
"I'm very happy at this club, I feel good in this country too".
"I'm happy to play in Saudi Arabia and I want to continue", told NOW. pic.twitter.com/0UzCI9NtZy
At club level, Ronaldo’s timeline is easier to read. His deal with Al-Nassr runs beyond the World Cup, offering him the option to continue playing well into his forties. The Saudi league gives him space — physically and commercially — to manage his body while still competing.
That safety net matters. It means retirement doesn’t have to arrive suddenly, or dramatically. If he does stop after the World Cup, it will be by choice, not necessity. And if he doesn’t? Very few would be surprised.
For all the talk about legacy, Ronaldo has never hidden his affection for milestones. The chase for 1,000 career goals still lingers in the background, an unspoken target that quietly influences every decision. As long as those numbers remain within reach, the temptation to continue will be strong.
Yet even Ronaldo understands that numbers alone can’t define the end. His career has already outgrown statistics. What remains is the feeling — whether he still wakes up wanting the grind, the pressure, the responsibility.
So is Ronaldo prepared to end his career after the World Cup? In practical terms, probably. He’s laid the groundwork. He’s spoken about emotions, about timing, about appreciating the moment.
But readiness is something else entirely. Ronaldo has spent more than two decades refusing to accept limits, including the most unavoidable one of all. When the final whistle comes — whether in 2026 or later — it won’t be because his body failed him. It will be because, for the first time, he decided that enough was truly enough.
And knowing Cristiano Ronaldo, that decision won’t come easily.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on January 26, against Al Taawon, for the Saudi Super League. You can watch Al Nassr vs Al Taawon, Villarreal vs Real Madrid, Barcelona vs Real Oviedo, Fenerbahce vs Aston Villa, Braga vs Nottingham Forest and Roma vs VfB Stuttgart, all matches provided from our stream live game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Al Nassr vs Al Taawon kick-off time (26-01-2026):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+8: 01:30
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+5.30: 23:00
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+3: 20:30
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+1: 18:30
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+0: 17:30
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 14:30
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 13:30
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 10:30
Sources: ronaldo7.net / globesoccer.com / bbc.com
