Cristiano Ronaldo wants to play into his 40s and hopes to play for Portugal in the next World Cup in 2026. He wants to hang around till the next World Cup, where wants to make his last appearance. Cristiano Ronaldo is hoping to postpone his retirement and continue his career in order to compete in the next World Cup.
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2026 World Cup on Cristiano Ronaldo’s mind
Cristiano Ronaldo had stated that he intended to play at the highest level until at least 2024. This would include the European Championship finals next summer, but he now wants to play until 2027. He will turn 39 in February, and will be 41 by the time the next World Cup takes place three years later.
In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo became the highest-ever goalscorer in international football, with 123 goals in 201 caps for Portugal. He captained his country in last year’s World Cup finals in Qatar. Ronaldo hopes to have another shot in the WC, after winning the European Championships with Portugal in 2016.
Ronaldo’s Portugal were defeated 1-0 by Morocco in their quarter-final match in Qatar last December. The superstar ran down the tunnel in tears after missing out on the chance to add the lone major honour to his sparkling CV. He could only watch as Argentina’s Lionel Messi won the competition.
Ronaldo’s words on winning the World Cup and tussle with Messi
While talking about the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo also spoke about Lionel Messi before. If winning the World Cup would decide who the best footballer in the world was, he had another opinion on the same. Ronaldo said, ‘Even if I win the World Cup that will continue. Some people like me more, some less. It’s like in life, some like blondes, some like brunettes.’
Ronaldo continued, ‘I have always had to show what I can do year after year. I would love to win this tournament. I’m ambitious but if you tell me I won’t win any more tournaments I would still be happy given all I have won. In the history books all other records will be there. But obviously a World Cup on the shelf wouldn’t be bad. It would be a dream.’
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According to sources from Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo has told the Saudi football authorities that he plans to prolong his career through Early 2027. This would mean he would play for a further three seasons, according to a story in the Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.
Lionel Messi winning the World Cup would have surely stung Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger has always tried to upstage his nemesis. It wouldn’t be a surprise if we saw CR7 walk out leading the Portuguese team in USA in 2026.
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