Overview
- Cristiano Ronaldo told reporters on Sunday that the 2026 World Cup will be his last at the tournament and said he hopes Portugal’s round-of-16 match with Spain is not his final game.
- He insisted he will set the timing for any wider international retirement, saying “I will retire when I want, not when you want,” and sharply rebuked persistent media criticism during the same press conference.
- Ronaldo has scored three goals at this World Cup and became the first man to score in six different World Cup editions, a milestone that frames this tournament as a capstone to his international record.
- He remains under contract with Saudi club Al‑Nassr through 2027 and has said he may continue at club level for another one to two years after the World Cup rather than end his entire playing career immediately.
- Commercial effects followed the announcement, with higher trading volume reported in Portugal’s fan token and continued attention to Binance-linked NFT collections tied to Ronaldo’s brand, signaling short-term market speculation around his exit.