Cristiano Ronaldo reveals where he is ‚most likely‘ to retire
Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that he could hang up his boots and retire by 2027, but insists he has no current plans to play anywhere else but current club Al Nassr in that time.
Ronaldo joined Al Nassr midway through the 2022/23 Saudi Pro League season following an acrimonious split with Manchester United just prior to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
It was a transfer that served as a catalyst for the Saudi Arabia boom in the 20 months since, with Ronaldo benefitting from the less intense competition and seeing his goal numbers shoot back up – his 50 goals in 51 games in 2023/24 was his best single season tally in eight years.
At Euro 2024 this past summer, Ronaldo had already confirmed he expected it to be his last European Championship with Portugal. The 2026 World Cup hasn’t been ruled out, but the 39-year-old has teased that he may not play much longer beyond that.
„I don’t know if I’ll finish soon or in two or three years. But, possibly, it will be at Al Nassr. It’s the team where I’m happy, where I’m good, where I feel good, both in the country and in the league. That’s why, most likely I can finish my career at Al Nassr,” Ronaldo told Portuguese broadcaster Now.
„I’m very happy to play in the [Saudi Pro League] and I want to continue.“
Ronaldo’s current contract with Al Nassr is due to expire next summer.
There is no indication as to when Ronaldo will walk away from international football, having amassed a world record number of caps (212) and goals (130) in men’s football, but clearly struggling at Euro 2024. Yet he insists there won’t be any kind of long countdown.
„I am immensely proud to represent our colours, it is a dream. When I leave the national team, I won’t tell anyone in advance and it will be a very spontaneous decision on my part, but also a very well thought-out one,“ he explained.
„Right now, what I want is to be able to help the national team in their upcoming matches. We have the Nations League ahead of us and I would really like to play.“
Ronaldo recently launched his own YouTube channel, which is already racing towards 50 million subscribers in its very first week. Although popular with American sports stars, it hasn’t been a common medium among footballers – except for a handful of exceptions – but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner looks set to change that as he considers life after playing.
Branching out, away from any direct involvement in the game, as some sort of ultra-influencer looks likely, especially after confirming that he doesn’t see himself going into coaching.
„At the moment, the idea of being a coach of any team does not cross my mind,“ he said.
„I do not see my future being that way. I see myself doing other things outside of football, but only God knows what the future holds.“