Real Madrid superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo has scored three goals at the 2026 World Cup thus far in four games, most recently punching home a trademark penalty from the spot with precision coolness to help ensure Portugal survived a scary match against Luka Modric and Croatia.
Although even Cristiano himself ackonwledges that he is not the same player at 41, he knows his positioning, intelligence, and finishing prowess are still as brilliant as ever, and he can still get the goal and help his team, with not a single soul in the Portuguese camp questioning his status as a starter.
But somewhere deep down, Ronaldo knows that the 2026 World Cup is his last and that he has to hang up the cleats before the fondness becomes something else and the deteroriation of his speed, agility, and acceleration is full and complete.
Cristiano Ronaldo will not fight Father Time
After his sister commented that this would be his last tournament, Cristiano Ronaldo told reporters ahead of the massive Iberian derby in the World Cup Round of 16 between Portugal and Spain that he will indeed be done with World Cups after this summer.
Ronaldo said, via Fabrizio Romano, “Yes, it’s my last one. Let’s go and enjoy it”.
Leave it to Cristiano to make such a simple statement and invite us all to enjoy his Last Dance in his final statement on him essentially retiring from the elite level of international competition. While Ronaldo still has not ruled out future tournaments, including the Nations League and European Championship that he has already won for Portugal in the past, this being his last World Cup is a milestone of its own.
As much as Real Madrid fans love Cristiano, they could already see this being the case and view the writing visibly on the wall. Cristiano is still an insane finisher who understands the game at a higher levle off the ball than any player in the history of this beautiful sport, but there is only so much the mind can do in a sport as taxing and athletically demanding as football.
Father Time comes for us all, and not even Ronaldo is about to fight it. He will step aside for Portugal within the next four years, but, for now, he is right in asserting that he is the best option they have at striker, and Madridistas will be rooting for him, even against the Spanish national team.
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