Cristiano Ronaldo says he did think about quitting international football after Portugal’s 2026 World Cup exit, but will remain available for the national team while leaving the World Cup timeline open.
He previously described the 2026 tournament as his final World Cup, and has not confirmed any intention to play at the 2030 World Cup.
Portugal’s new coach Jorge Jesus has included Ronaldo in his first squad for the UEFA Nations League, signaling he remains part of short-term plans.
Ronaldo remains focused on personal milestones, including pursuing 1,000 career goals, while weighing how much he can contribute to Portugal and younger team members.
# What happened
# Why this matters now Ronaldo had earlier described the 2026 World Cup as his final World Cup. His recent comments change the immediate picture for his national-team status without confirming participation in the 2030 World Cup. Portugal will be one of the 2030 hosts alongside Spain and Morocco, which keeps the question of his involvement at that tournament part of the conversation.
# Where he stands with the squad New Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus included Ronaldo in his first squad for the UEFA Nations League. That selection indicates the coaching staff expects Ronaldo to play some role in upcoming matches, at least in the short term.
# What Ronaldo says about his motivation Ronaldo framed his decision to keep playing for Portugal around two points: his belief he can still contribute on the pitch and his desire to support younger players coming through the squad. He is also pursuing the milestone of 1,000 career goals, which remains a personal objective.
# What remains unresolved Ronaldo has not stated that he will play at the 2030 World Cup. Given his age—he is 41 now and would be 45 by 2030—the question of long-term international plans remains open. Former Portugal coach Roberto Martínez had said fans should not rule out a 2030 appearance, but Ronaldo himself had described 2026 as his final World Cup in July after Portugal's last-16 defeat to Spain.
# Immediate implications
# Bottom line Ronaldo nearly stepped away after the 2026 World Cup but chose to carry on with Portugal for now. He has not committed to playing in 2030, and his role will be shaped by his on-field contributions, Portugal's coaching decisions, and how the squad integrates younger players.
Luis Figo says Cristiano Ronaldo should be the one to decide when he wants to end his Portugal career.
Cristiano Ronaldo considered retiring from international football after the World Cup before deciding to extend his Portugal career.
Former Portugal footballer, Luis Figo has expressed his views on Cristiano Ronaldo’s potential retirement from international football. Pressure on Ronaldo to quit international football has increased after Lionel Messi’s recent retirement. Following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup an
A sus 41 años, el astro lusitano prefiere evitar proyecciones a largo plazo, concentrando sus esfuerzos en el rendimiento inmediato sobre el terreno de juego. The post Cristiano Ronaldo no vislumbra un retiro de su selección a corto plazo appeared first on EL NACIONAL .
Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has explained his decision to include Cristiano Ronaldo in his latest squad, making it clear the veteran forward remains in his plans because of what he can still offer on the pitch. The 41-year-old remains a key figure for Portugal and was included in Jesus’ first squad as national-team
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Central's Jorge River and Ryan Burke are headed to Germany to train with Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich. Kofa swept Yuma in straight sets. The Padres are ready for their Wild Card matchup against the Cubs. The Senate passed the College Sports Act. The post NBC 11 Sports: Kofa rolls past Yuma i
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.