An era has come to an end for world football. Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that his sixth FIFA World Cup will be his last after Portugal’s elimination from the tournament.
LISBON, PORTUGAL — Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he will not play in another FIFA World Cup following Portugal’s exit from the competition. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner shared the emotional update in a message posted after the team’s elimination, reflecting on his long career and the significance of representing his country on football’s biggest stage.
According to Ronaldo, playing at the World Cup has been one of the greatest honours of his career. He thanked supporters who stood by him throughout his journey and said every appearance for Portugal carried deep personal meaning. The football star noted that he always gave his best for the national team and remained committed to achieving success for his country.
In his message, Cristiano Ronaldo wrote that he had given everything he had to football throughout his career. He said his passion and love for the game kept him going for many years, adding that his motivation came from representing Portugal and competing at the highest level. Ronaldo also expressed gratitude to teammates, coaches, family and fans who supported him during his international career.
Ronaldo made his FIFA World Cup debut in 2006 and went on to feature in six editions of the tournament, becoming one of the few players in football history to achieve the milestone. During his international career, he helped Portugal win the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019, while setting multiple scoring and appearance records for the national team.
The development means international football is entering a new chapter as one of the sport’s most celebrated players steps away from the World Cup stage. Although Ronaldo has confirmed that this was his final appearance at the tournament, he has not announced his retirement from professional football. Fans around the world will now watch closely to see what comes next in the career of one of the game’s most influential figures.
