Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing for what could be the final chapter of his legendary soccer career, revealing that this may be his last year of football after 25 years on the pitch.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner made the revelation during a joint interview with his wife, Georgina Rodríguez, for Vogue. When the newlyweds were asked whether marriage would change anything in their lives, Ronaldo dropped the retirement bombshell almost as an aside.
“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo said.
At 41, the Portuguese superstar is already thinking about what comes after soccer. While he acknowledged that walking away from the sport could leave a significant hole in his life, he said he has plenty of plans for the next chapter.
Family will be a major part of it. Ronaldo also mentioned traveling, playing padel and enjoying the life he and Rodríguez have built together.
“After all it’s been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice,” Ronaldo said.
The announcement comes at a major transition point for Ronaldo. He currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr and has continued competing at the highest level well into his 40s.
He also recently represented Portugal at what was his sixth and final World Cup, adding another milestone to an international career that has spanned more than two decades.
Ronaldo’s personal life has been changing just as dramatically. He and Rodríguez tied the knot Tuesday in an intimate ceremony at their home in Portugal, surrounded by their five children.
There was no extended honeymoon, however. Ronaldo returned to Riyadh almost immediately to prepare for the new season with Al-Nassr.
After a career built on records, trophies and an extraordinary level of longevity, Ronaldo now appears to be entering his final stretch.
One last run is on the table — and CR7 says he wants to make every moment count.
