Cristiano Ronaldo has given his clearest indication yet that his remarkable football career could be approaching its final chapter, admitting that the current season may be his last as a professional player.
The 41-year-old Portugal legend, who has spent more than two decades at the highest level, said he wants to leave behind an extraordinary legacy before eventually saying goodbye to the sport that has shaped his life since childhood.
Speaking to Vogue in an interview published around his recent wedding to Georgina Rodriguez, Ronaldo revealed that he has already started thinking about life after football and is preparing himself for a new chapter away from the pitch.
“This could be my last year in football and I want to leave an incredible legacy.
“I have so many things to do that it is difficult to name just one.
“When football ends, it can leave a huge empty space, so you need to fill your time with different things, not just one,” he said.
Ronaldo said retirement would allow him to spend more time with his family and enjoy some of the activities he has had little opportunity to pursue during a career defined by relentless training, competition and sacrifice.
He said he also wants to travel more, watch and play padel, a sport he particularly enjoys, while making the most of everything he has achieved after 25 years of dedication.
The Portugal captain has built one of the most decorated careers in football history, winning five Ballon d’Or awards, five UEFA Champions League titles and league championships in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia.
Yet one major trophy remains missing from his collection — the FIFA World Cup. His hopes of adding the prestigious title to his record were ended after Portugal’s elimination from this year’s tournament.
Ronaldo currently plays for Saudi Pro League champions Al-Nassr and has another year remaining on his contract. Despite approaching the twilight of his career, he is still chasing another remarkable milestone.
He has scored 976 goals for club and country, leaving him just 24 goals short of reaching 1,000 career goals, a landmark that would further cement his status as one of football’s most prolific goalscorers.
Ronaldo was not selected to play when Al-Nassr began their Saudi Pro League title defence against Al Fateh on Saturday, but he was present at the stadium with his family to watch his side secure victory.
From humble beginnings in Madeira, Portugal, Ronaldo went on to become the first footballer to reach billionaire status and one of the most recognisable sporting figures on the planet.
If this season does prove to be his final campaign, football fans could soon witness the end of an extraordinary era — one defined by goals, records, trophies and a relentless pursuit of greatness.
