Cristiano Ronaldo sparks controversy over his future with Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo has addressed his future with Portugal after previously confirming that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be his final appearance.

The 41-year-old forward revealed that he did consider walking away from international football following Portugal’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup, but ultimately decided to continue representing his country.

“Yes, I did,” Ronaldo said when asked whether he had considered retiring from international football. He explained that staying with Portugal means he still believes he can contribute to the national team.

Ronaldo added that he remains motivated by his desire to help Portugal, particularly through his goals and experience, while also supporting a younger generation coming through the squad.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo play at the 2030 World Cup?

Despite his decision to continue playing for Portugal, Ronaldo has not indicated that he plans to return for the 2030 World Cup. In July, following Portugal’s last-16 defeat to Spain at the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo confirmed that the tournament had been his final World Cup.

That means Ronaldo's latest decision to continue with Portugal should not automatically be interpreted as a change of plans regarding the 2030 tournament. However, it remains a subject of discussion because Portugal will be one of the host nations in 2030, alongside Spain and Morocco, and he would be 45 by then.

Earlier in 2026, former Portugal coach Roberto Martínez said fans should not completely rule out the possibility of Ronaldo playing at the 2030 World Cup, but Ronaldo himself subsequently described 2026 as his final World Cup.

However, Ronaldo's immediate focus is on continuing with Portugal under new head coach Jorge Jesus. He has been included in Jesus' first squad for the UEFA Nations League, demonstrating that his international career is continuing beyond the 2026 World Cup.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is also pursuing another major personal milestone: reaching 1,000 career goals. Ronaldo said he hopes to continue playing while he feels capable of contributing to the national team.

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