Ronaldo tells Vogue this is 'probably' his last year in football
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, told Vogue magazine the upcoming season will probably be his last, with 976 career goals and a 1,000-goal milestone still in sight at Al-Nassr.
The announcement
Cristiano Ronaldo told Vogue magazine in an interview published on Sunday, 16 August 2026, that the upcoming season will probably be his last as a professional footballer. The 41-year-old Portugal captain said his post-playing future was already completely planned and that he wanted to leave a spectacular legacy before stepping away from the sport. He will continue playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr this season, where his contract runs until 2027, according to Der Tagesspiegel.
This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy.
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2023 after spells at Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. He made his senior debut for Sporting in 2002, beginning a career that has now spanned more than two decades.
Career by the numbers
Ronaldo has scored 976 goals for club and country, Reuters reported, during a career spanning more than two decades. Franceinfo gives the figure as more than 970 goals in approximately 1,300 matches, with 32 titles won. He is a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, the second-most in history behind Lionel Messi's eight. His trophy haul includes five Champions League titles, per ANSA.
- Senior debut for Sporting
- Joins Al-Nassr in Saudi Pro League
- Announces he will not stay in football after retiring as a player
- Plays sixth World Cup; Portugal eliminated in Round of 16 by Spain (1-0)
- Vogue interview published; says this is probably his last year in football
- Al-Nassr contract expires
One of Ronaldo's remaining objectives is to reach 1,000 career goals. With 976 already scored, he sits 24 goals short of that mark, according to SAPO. He played his sixth World Cup this summer, with Portugal eliminated in the Round of 16 by eventual champions Spain, 1-0.
- Goals scored
- 976 goals
- 1,000-goal target
- 1000 goals
Life after football
Ronaldo told Vogue he had already mapped out his future beyond football, citing travel and padel among his plans. He had previously indicated at the end of 2025 that he would not remain in football after retiring as a player, preferring to devote time to his family and other interests, according to watson.ch.
I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard. Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one.
He added that he wanted to "have more fun, travel more, watch and play padel" and "continue to enjoy what I've earned, what we've earned. Because after all it's been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice." Ronaldo married influencer Georgina Rodriguez, 32, in a private ceremony in Portugal on Tuesday, Franceinfo reported.
Wider context
Ronaldo had already said during this year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico that it would be his last. He was unable to add a World Cup title to his list of honours, leaving the sport's biggest prize absent from his trophy cabinet. Franceinfo noted that Lionel Messi, the Argentine forward to whom Ronaldo has often been compared, also said on Wednesday that he was not certain he would play "much longer," following the death of his father a few days earlier.
