Cristiano Ronaldo Acknowledges Possible Retirement, Eyes Legacy
Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo turns 41 this year, leading him to contemplate his future in football. He has already indicated that he will not compete in Euro 2028 (if Portugal qualifies), suggesting he plans to retire before the tournament in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
After spending nine years at Real Madrid from 2009 to 2018, Ronaldo has been with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr since 2023. Despite challenges during international competitions, he has proven he still possesses remarkable skill, scoring 129 goals in 148 matches in this new chapter, although his future appearances in the national team may be limited.
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In a recent interview with Vogue (via Diario AS), Ronaldo admitted that his time on the pitch may be coming to a close, revealing the possibility of retiring as soon as next summer.
“This is probably my last year in football and I want to leave a spectacular legacy. I have my future totally planned. I have so many things to do to keep me busy that I couldn’t tell you just one. Because football can leave a big void, so you have to fill it with several things, not just one. It will be fun, to travel more, play and watch padel, which I like a lot, and continue to enjoy what I have earned, or that we have earned. Because at the end of the day, these 25 years have been very sacrificed.”
Ronaldo Eyes 1,000 Goal Milestone Before Retirement
While Ronaldo appears poised to hang up his boots in 2027, the timing of his retirement may hinge on achieving the milestone of 1,000 career goals. Currently, he stands at 976 goals, and once he reaches the remaining 24, it seems likely he will consider his career at an end shortly after.
Real Madrid icon Cristiano Ronaldo is now 41, so it is understandable that he is thinking about life after football. He has already confirmed that he will not be present at Euro 2028 (should Portugal qualify), and it looks like he will hang up his boots before the tournament takes place in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Ronaldo, who spent nine years at Real Madrid between 2009 and 2018, has been playing in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr since 2023, and while he struggled to make the desired impact in international tournaments during this time, he has still shown that he hasn’t lost his touch. 129 goals in 148 matches in a spectacular return, although he does not plan to appear too many more times in the yellow and blue.
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In an interview with Vogue (via Diario AS), Ronaldo has acknowledged that his playing days are coming to an end – in fact, he revealed that he could walk away from the game as early as next summer.
“This is probably my last year in football and I want to leave a spectacular legacy. I have my future totally planned. I have so many things to do to keep me busy that I couldn’t tell you just one. Because football can leave a big void, so you have to fill it with several things, not just one. It will be fun, to travel more, play and watch padel, which I like a lot, and continue to enjoy what I have earned, or that we have earned. Because at the end of the day, these 25 years have been very sacrificed.”
Ronaldo has 1,000 goal milestone to chase down first
It would be no surprise to see Ronaldo retire in 2027, although the exact date is likely to depend on when he reaches 1000 goals. He’s currently on 976, and when he does rack up the 24 required, it is certain that his playing days will come to an end soon after.
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