Cristiano Ronaldo Drops Retirement Hint, Says ‘Probably’ His Final Year in Football

Cristiano Ronaldo has indicated that the 2026-27 season could be his final campaign as a professional footballer, saying he will “probably” retire at the end of the season.

“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo told Vogue. The 41-year-old Portugal captain has not formally announced his retirement, but his comments represent one of his strongest indications yet that the end of his playing career is approaching.

Ronaldo still has major milestones within reach. He has scored 976 goals in 1,330 appearances for club and country and needs just 24 more to reach the landmark figure of 1,000 career goals.

His record at Al Nassr remains impressive. The forward scored 28 goals in the Saudi Pro League last season and finished third in the league’s scoring charts, while netting 39 times across all competitions.

A Remarkable Career

Ronaldo’s career has included spells at Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al Nassr. He has scored 450 goals for Real Madrid, 145 across his two spells at Manchester United and 138 for Portugal.

The Portuguese star has also collected five Ballon d’Or awards, five UEFA Champions League titles and the European Championship with Portugal. Despite turning 41, Ronaldo remains Portugal’s captain and a key attacking player for Al Nassr. However, he is now increasingly discussing life beyond professional football.

Ronaldo Plans Life After Football

Ronaldo revealed that he has already considered how he will spend his time after retirement. “I already have my entire future planned. I have so many things to keep me busy that it’s difficult to name just one,” he said. He acknowledged that leaving football could create a significant void after spending much of his life in the sport.

“Since football can leave a great void, it’s necessary to fill the time in various ways, not just one,” Ronaldo added. Travel and padel are among the activities he hopes to enjoy more once his playing career ends. He also reflected on the sacrifices made throughout his 25-year career.

“After all, it’s been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice,” he said.

Ronaldo’s latest comments came shortly after his marriage to Georgina Rodriguez in a private ceremony at their home in Cascais, Portugal.

No Plans for Coaching

While Ronaldo has previously expressed an interest in remaining involved in football, he has ruled out becoming a coach. He has said that owning a football club is something he could consider in the future, but coaching does not appeal to him.

“I’m not thinking about being a coach of the first team or any team. It doesn’t even cross my mind,” Ronaldo said in an earlier interview.

For now, Ronaldo remains focused on his career and the pursuit of 1,000 goals. With 24 goals still required, reaching the milestone before retirement could become one of the defining challenges of the final chapter of his playing career.

Although he has not announced a specific retirement date, Ronaldo’s latest remarks suggest that the 2026-27 season could mark the end of one of football’s most extraordinary careers.