Ronaldo says 2026 World Cup will be his last

WASHINGTON, United States — Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that next year's FIFA World Cup will be the final one of his career, telling reporters in Washington that he wants to enjoy the tournament. Responding to questions at a press conference ahead of Portugal's upcoming fixture, the 40-year-old forward smiled as he said this would be his last World Cup. He stressed that the priority was to savor the moment, describing the years of accumulated memories with teammates and supporters as what mattered most to him. Ronaldo also shared a lighthearted anecdote about an Argentine flight attendant during a trip, noting that his wife is Argentine and that he gets along well with the culture. Looking ahead to the Portugal–Spain semifinal, he downplayed talk of reaching the final, saying his side first hopes simply to have a good evening against Spain. France, potential opponents in the next round, would only be discussed if Portugal advanced, he added.