Cristiano Ronaldo Says 2026-27 Season Is Probably His Last in Football/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Cristiano Ronaldo says the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League season will probably be the final year of his professional football career. The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward has scored 976 career goals and won five Ballon d’Or awards and five Champions League titles. Ronaldo’s contract expires next June, and he plans to spend retirement traveling, playing padel and enjoying time away from football.
Quick Look
- Ronaldo said this is “probably” his final football season.
- His Al-Nassr contract expires in June 2027.
- He joined the Saudi club in December 2022.
- The 2026-27 campaign is his 25th professional season.
- Ronaldo has scored 976 career goals.
- He has won five Ballon d’Or awards.
- He has collected five UEFA Champions League titles.
- Ronaldo scored 28 league goals last season.
- He helped Al-Nassr win the Saudi league championship in May.
- It was his first trophy since moving to Riyadh.
- It was Al-Nassr’s first league title since 2019.
- Ronaldo married Georgina Rodriguez earlier in August.
- He missed Al-Nassr’s season-opening 3-0 win over Al-Fateh.
- He could return against Al-Diriyah in the King’s Cup on Tuesday.
- Lionel Messi also recently suggested he may retire soon.
Deep Look
Ronaldo says retirement is approaching
RIYADH — Cristiano Ronaldo says the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League season is likely to be the last of his professional career.
The 41-year-old Portuguese star is entering the final year of his contract with Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo joined the Riyadh club in December 2022, and his current agreement expires next June.
He told Vogue magazine that he is unlikely to sign another contract.
“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo said.
Ronaldo has his future planned
Ronaldo said he has already considered how he will spend his life after retiring from professional football.
“I have my future all mapped out,” he said. “I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard. Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one.”
He said his retirement plans include traveling, having more fun and spending time playing and watching padel.
“And also have more fun, travel more, watch and play padel, which I really like, and continue to enjoy what I’ve earned — what we’ve earned. Because after all, it’s been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice.”
Final season would conclude 25-year career
The 2026-27 Saudi Pro League campaign is Ronaldo’s 25th season as a professional footballer.
His career has included spells with Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards, recognizing him as one of the greatest players of his generation.
He has also lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy five times.
The Portuguese forward has scored 976 goals during his career, leaving him within reach of the 1,000-goal milestone during what may become his final season.
Ronaldo helped Al-Nassr win Saudi title
Ronaldo scored 28 league goals last season as Al-Nassr won the Saudi Arabian championship in May.
The title was Ronaldo’s first trophy since joining the Riyadh club.
It also ended Al-Nassr’s wait for a league championship dating to 2019.
Ronaldo could now conclude his professional career while helping the club defend the title.
Al-Nassr begins title defense without Ronaldo
Ronaldo did not play in Al-Nassr’s first match of the new Saudi Pro League season on Saturday.
He watched from the sidelines as the defending champions opened their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Al-Fateh.
The forward had recently returned following his wedding to his longtime partner, Georgina Rodriguez.
The couple married earlier in August.
“Cristiano is here today, and he is always present with us,” Al-Nassr coach Ange Postecoglou said after the game.
Ronaldo could return in King’s Cup
Ronaldo could make his season debut when Al-Nassr faces Al-Diriyah in the King’s Cup on Tuesday.
Postecoglou emphasized the importance of allowing the players to recover during the short break between matches.
“The most important thing now is recovery, especially as we have only two days after this match,” said Postecoglou, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest coach.
Ronaldo’s potential return would begin what he has suggested could be the farewell season of his professional career.
Messi also raises possibility of retirement
Ronaldo’s comments came only days after his longtime rival Lionel Messi suggested that his own retirement could be approaching.
Messi, 39, spoke about his uncertainty following the death of his father.
“I don’t know how to carry on,” Messi said. “I used to just play football, and now I’m really not sure if I’ll carry on doing it for much longer.”
The remarks from Ronaldo and Messi raise the prospect that both defining football stars of their generation could end their professional careers within a similar period.
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