The Last WC Dance - Cristiano confirms his Portugal retirement

Cristiano Ronaldo has drawn the line. The Portuguese icon confirmed that the 2026 World Cup - hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada - will be his final dance on football's biggest stage.

"Definitely, yes," Ronaldo told CNN. "I'll be 41, and I think that will be the right moment to step away from the big competition."

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who turns 40 in February, admitted that the end of his legendary career is now within sight. "Let's be honest - when I say soon, I mean probably one or two years more," he said.

Cristiano as candid as it gets: "I'm sad about Man Utd, and no - Messi isn't better than me"

Ronaldo, now at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, continues to defy time and numbers. With 953 career goals and 143 for Portugal, he remains the top international scorer in men's football history - still chasing the mythical milestone of 1,000 goals.

If he takes the field in 2026, it will be his sixth World Cup, an unprecedented run of longevity and excellence. Yet one prize continues to elude him - the golden trophy that completes every footballer's dream.

The man who led Portugal to Euro 2016 glory has conquered England, Spain, and Italy, but the World Cup remains the one missing jewel in his crown.

'It's easier to score in Spain than in Saudi Arabia'

Roberto Martinez's Portugal have not yet booked their ticket for North America, but could seal qualification with a win against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday.

Whatever happens next, the countdown has begun: Cristiano's final World Cup - the last chapter in a career that rewrote football itself.