‘This is probably my last year in football,’ says Cristiano Ronaldo

Riyadh (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old superstar, has announced that this Saudi Pro League season may be the last of his professional career. Ronaldo, who signed a contract with Al-Nassr in December 2022, stated that he is unlikely to sign another contract after next June. "This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy," he told Vogue magazine.

The Portugal forward, who has scored a record 976 career goals, recently married his long-time partner Georgina Rodriguez. Ronaldo, who has won five Ballon d'Or awards and five UEFA Champions League titles, emphasized that he has many other interests to occupy his time. "I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard," he said.

"Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one." The 2026-27 SPL season marks Ronaldo's 25th year as a professional player. During his illustrious career, he led Al-Nassr to the Saudi Arabian league title in May, securing his first trophy since joining the club. After returning from his wedding, Ronaldo missed Al-Nassr's first match of their title defense, watching from the sidelines as they won their opening game 3-0 against Al-Fateh.