---
title: " Cristiano Ronaldo Considered Retirement After 2026 World Cup, Chooses to Continue with Portugal"
english_title: "Cristiano Ronaldo Considered Retirement After 2026 World Cup, Continues with Portugal"
publisher: "Truevision English News"
canonical_url: "https://english.truevisionnews.com/news/384019/cristiano-ronaldo-retirement-after-2026-world-cup-portugal"
published_at: "2026-09-24T12:03:00+05:30"
category: "Sports"
language: "en"
image: "https://cf.zdn.im/img/truevisionnews.com/0/image-uploads/6ab4c4a3bc8c2_cristiano-ronaldo-retirement-after-2026-world-cup-portugal.jpg"
keywords: ["Cristiano Ronaldo", "Ronaldo retirement", "Portugal national team", "2026 World Cup", "Nations League", "Ronaldo 1000 goals"]
---

#  Cristiano Ronaldo Considered Retirement After 2026 World Cup, Chooses to Continue with Portugal

> **Lead Summary:** **Lisbon:** Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he considered retiring from international football after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, he said he still believes he can contribute to the national team and will step away only when he feels he can no longer help Portugal.

## Article Content

**Lisbon:** Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he considered retiring from international football after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, he said he still believes he can contribute to the national team and will step away only when he feels he can no longer help Portugal.

Ronaldo spoke about his future during a press conference ahead of the Nations League. The 41-year-old said he had thought about retiring after the World Cup, while also explaining that he regularly thinks about his decisions, future and present situation.

Ronaldo said he had spoken with the president and the coach about continuing with the national team. He said he believes he can still give the national side what it needs. According to Ronaldo, his contribution does not have to be limited to scoring goals, as he can also help the national team outside football.

He also referred to the new generation of players in the Portugal squad. Ronaldo said his basic objective remains to score goals on the field and help the team win matches.The Portuguese star also spoke about criticism directed at him. He said he has been playing football for the past 20 years and has received the love of the Portuguese people. At the same time, he acknowledged that there are people who want to criticise him and said he is accustomed to such criticism.

Ronaldo said he knows who he is and why children look up to him. He added that critics will always exist and that some people want him to stop playing now. However, he said he draws motivation from those who want to continue seeing him on the field.

Ronaldo, who continues to perform for both his club and national team at the age of 41, is confident about reaching 1,000 career goals. He said scoring his 1,000th goal in a Portugal shirt would be very special. However, he clarified that reaching the milestone is a desire rather than an obsession and that he is enjoying every moment.

Ronaldo and Portugal were eliminated by Spain in the pre-quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup and are now preparing for the Nations League. Portugal's first match is against Wales on September 25.

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