Cristiano Ronaldo has said that this could be his final year in football, but he stopped short of announcing a firm retirement date. In a new Vogue profile published on August 16, the Portugal captain described the next phase of his life as one built around family, travel and a lasting legacy.
Asked about life after football, Ronaldo said: “This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy.” The timing lines up with his club deal. Al Nassr announced in June 2025 that Ronaldo was staying until 2027, as Al Jazeera and beIN Sports both reported, so a final season in 2026-27 would finish in the same year the contract ends.
A cautious retirement signal
Ronaldo’s answer came during a conversation about his wedding to Georgina Rodriguez and the couple’s plans for family life. He told Vogue he has his future mapped out and expects to keep busy after football, naming family time, travel and padel among the interests he wants to enjoy more fully.
He also reflected on the cost of his career. After 25 years defined by training, competition and sacrifice, Ronaldo suggested that moving away from football would require more than one replacement activity. That is a revealing point from a player whose professional identity has been tied to daily preparation for most of his adult life.
The wording still matters. “Probably” is a strong signal that the end is near, but it is not a formal confirmation that he will retire when the season finishes, and the Vogue interview gave no date.
Ronaldo’s Al Nassr years and retirement hints
The Vogue comment is the latest in a series of statements about where and when he will stop. Read in order, they narrow from an open-ended plan to a single season.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| December 2022 | Joins Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United, on a two-and-a-half-year deal running until 2025. |
| August 27, 2024 | Tells Portuguese channel NOW he will “probably” retire at Al Nassr, but is unsure whether that will be in two or three years. |
| June 26, 2025 | Al Nassr confirms a two-year extension, keeping him at the club until 2027. Financial terms are not disclosed. |
| July 6, 2026 | Portugal lose 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup round of 16 in Arlington, Texas. Ronaldo confirms it was his last World Cup. |
| August 15, 2026 | Due to start the new Saudi season with Al Nassr, according to Vogue. |
| August 16, 2026 | Vogue publishes his comment that this is “probably” his last year of football. |
| 2027 | Current Al Nassr contract ends. The club’s announcement gave the year only, not a specific day. |
The 2024 remark, reported by Al Jazeera, already pointed to a finish around 2026 or 2027. His original move to Riyadh was covered by Al Majalla from Reuters reporting, which said the club announced a deal until 2025.
What Ronaldo wants to leave behind
The emphasis on legacy is consistent with the scale of Ronaldo’s career, but he did not use the interview to list records or set a final target. He spoke about the way he wants the next chapter to feel: more time with his family, more freedom to travel and the chance to enjoy interests away from the pitch.
His international future is less settled than his World Cup one. After the defeat by Spain, NBC Washington reported him saying it was his last World Cup but that he would take time to think about everything else and not make a hot-headed decision. Bettista covered that tournament in the World Cup 2026 results.
No fixed goodbye yet
For now, the responsible reading is possibility rather than certainty. Ronaldo has indicated that this may be his last year, and his contract gives that season a natural end point, but the decision and its timing remain his to announce.
