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Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday said next year’s World Cup would be his last as he winds down one of the all-time great careers.
The 40-year-old forward, with more than 950 club and international goals, also said he would retire from football in “one or two years”.
“Definitely, yes,” he told a Saudi forum by video link, when asked if 2026 would be his World Cup swansong. “I’m gonna be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment.”
Ronaldo, who began a lucrative stint at Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in 2023, also elaborated on comments last week when he said he would retire “soon”.
“Let’s be honest, when I mean soon, it’s probably one or two years I’ll still be at the game,” he said.
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The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is targeting a sixth World Cup next year. He came closest to lifting the trophy in 2006, when Portugal lost to France in the semi-finals.
Portugal have yet to qualify for the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, but can secure their spot if they beat Ireland on Thursday.
Ronaldo joined Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United for a second time in late 2022, a move that heralded a influx of late-career stars to the oil-rich kingdom.
Saudi Arabia, which is spending big on sports and entertainment as part of its economic diversification plan, was named as host of the 2034 World Cup last December.
Cristiano Ronaldo has put a timeline on his cryptic retirement hint, saying he will hang up his boots in “one or two years”.
The Portugal forward, who has scored more than 950 goals for clubs and country after making his debut as a teenager at Sporting in 2002, said in an interview on Tuesday that he would retire soon to spend time with his family.
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Ronaldo extended his contract with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr until 2027 in June, and the 40-year-old Portuguese is also targeting next year’s World Cup, the only major title missing from his trophy cabinet.
“Soon for me means in 10 years … No, I’m joking,” Ronaldo said via video call at a Saudi-hosted global summit on tourism and investment.
“I’m really enjoying the moment right now. As you know, in football, when you reach some age, you count the months very quick.
“I feel very good in this moment. I score goals; I still feel quick and sharp. I’m enjoying my game in the national team. But of course, let’s be honest. What I mean by soon is probably one or two years.”
With Portugal on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo confirmed the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico will be his swansong on football’s biggest stage.
“Definitely, yes, because I will be 41 years old [at the World Cup],” said Ronaldo, who is also the top scorer in history with 143 international goals.
“I gave everything for football. I’ve been in the game for the last 25 years. I did everything. I have many records in the different scenarios in the clubs and also in the national teams.
“I’m really proud. So let’s enjoy the moment, live the moment.”
Ronaldo said he knows he will go down in history as one of the best players ever.
But can his son, Cristiano dos Santos Jr, who is following in his footsteps by playing for the Portugal Under-16 team, be a better player than his father?
“As human beings, we always don’t want anybody being better than us. But I wish my kids will be better than me. I’m never going to be jealous of him,” he said.
“I don’t want to add pressure to that, because what I want for him is to be happy. It doesn’t matter if you want to play football or play another sport. Be happy, be free. Don’t be with the pressure of your daddy because that is a lot.
“This is a new generation, a different generation. They think different, they live different. But as a father, I’m here to help him to be whatever he wants to be. I will be his support.”
British number one Jack Draper and world number six Jessica Pegula will play at Queen’s next year.
Draper, ranked 10th in the world, reached the semi-finals this summer where he lost in three sets to eventual runner-up Jiri Lehecka.
American Pegula will make her tournament debut in 2026, a year after women’s tennis returned to Queen’s for the first time since 1973.
Last week it was confirmed defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz and 2025 women’s runner-up Amanda Anisimova will return.
“I’ve got a picture of me next to the trophy when I’m a kid and I’m just about taller than the trophy so hopefully one day I’ll get to lift it up.
“Queen’s is one of the tournaments I want to win the most because it’s my home tournament, a beautiful place and making the semi-finals this year, I just came up short, so next year I’ll be really motivated to come back and go a couple of steps further.”
Pegula, 31, said: “I’ve heard great things from other players about the set-up, the atmosphere, and the history there, so it’ll be fun to experience it for myself.”
British number one Jack Draper and world number six Jessica Pegula will play at Queen’s next year.
Draper, ranked 10th in the world, reached the semi-finals this summer where he lost in three sets to eventual runner-up Jiri Lehecka.
American Pegula will make her tournament debut in 2026, a year after women’s tennis returned to Queen’s for the first time since 1973.
Last week it was confirmed defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz and 2025 women’s runner-up Amanda Anisimova will return.
“I’ve got a picture of me next to the trophy when I’m a kid and I’m just about taller than the trophy so hopefully one day I’ll get to lift it up.
“Queen’s is one of the tournaments I want to win the most because it’s my home tournament, a beautiful place and making the semi-finals this year, I just came up short, so next year I’ll be really motivated to come back and go a couple of steps further.”
Pegula, 31, said: “I’ve heard great things from other players about the set-up, the atmosphere, and the history there, so it’ll be fun to experience it for myself.”
As someone who regularly has long train commutes and often stays away for work for a day or two at a time, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect work bag for ages. I need it to look smart, be comfortable to carry for hours at a time and, crucially, fits loads in, including my big, heavy work laptop.
I’ve tried a variety of different styles, from backpacks to crossbody bags, but never found anything that ticked all the boxes – until now, that is, when I found this practical and designer-inspired bag from a surprising place.
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Popular high street jewellery brand Abbott Lyon – which counts Stacey Solomon and Olivia Attwood as ambassadors and fans – has recently branched out into handbags, and I snapped up the Milan Leather Bag in black – a great price for its size, I think, at £89.
Looking not a million miles away from the Bottega Veneta Hop Large Leather Shoulder Bag, which retails at an eye-watering £4,250, this new Abbott Lyon bag features a woven-look leather finish, wide shoulder strap and boxy shape and, like a lot of Abbott Lyon’s products, can be personalised with gold initial charms. It’s also available in autumn’s most on-trend shade: burgundy.
What drew me most to the Milan bag, however, was the shot on the brand’s website of the model putting a laptop easily inside it – a key requirement for me. Sure enough, when it arrived I immediately went to fit my big, chunky company laptop in it, and was thrilled with how easily it fit inside, along with all my other daily essentials (water bottle, purse, notebook, phone etc).
While I don’t think one-shoulder bags are really recommended as the best option for your back (choose a supportive backpack if you struggle with back issues), I found this really comfortable to wear, in part due to the wide strap. One thing I would note, however, is that it can slide easily off the shoulder if worn with slippy clothes or not packed particularly full.
It also has a habit of falling over when placed on the floor; I think it would benefit from having a slight base, rather than the two sides simply joining together like an envelope.
However, I’m thrilled that I’ve finally found the perfect work bag for my needs – and without having to splash out on a designer buy.
Another option I’ve spotted is the Radley Bridgewater Medium Ziptop Tote, a bit more classic in style and currently half price, down from £239 to £119.
For something cheaper than both this and Abbott Lyon’s, however, there’s the Accessorize Black Laptop Tote Bag, which costs £40 from Next.