Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that the World Cup in America, Mexico and Canada will be the last of his career.
The Portugal national team captain will be aiming for the first victory in his country’s history and life in his sixth appearance at the tournament, but his achievements could last for at least two more years, according to the Portuguese’s former team-mates.
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The truth is, despite appearing in the last World Cup, Cristiano has not announced his retirement from football, much less. In fact, his contract with Al Nasr of the Saudi league runs until 2027, meaning his time with the Portuguese national team could continue beyond the World Cup.
Or at least that’s what former Manchester United teammate Wes Brown believes. In a conversation with Goal, he revealed that the Portuguese’s competitive nature will make him want to play in his country’s colors for at least one more Cup. “If he can contribute something to the team, why not pick him? Does that mean he has to play every game? Look at the last tournament. Everyone said he shouldn’t play, but he did a good job,” he began.
Brown also said that Ronaldo is well aware that he could be criticized if he doesn’t score a goal or an assist, but he doesn’t want to let that affect him: “In his mind it’s not over yet and he can still contribute to the team. I don’t think he will retire from international football until he retires for good. He still has the energy, he still has the same beliefs and he can still do it. Very few people can say that at that level.”
If eternal rival Lionel Messi decides to play, this could be his last tournament. The Argentina captain and his teammates were crowned champions after defeating Kylian Mbapp’s France in Qatar on December 18, 2022. This new edition could be the last chance for the Portuguese to add this cup to his trophy collection and at the same time match the Inter Miami star’s achievements.
“Believe me, Ronaldo doesn’t need that to prove anything, but he still wants to win,” Brown said. “A lot of people will also want to see him achieve it. Will it be easy? No, it will be difficult. But it will definitely be a challenge for him,” added the 46-year-old former defender.
Meanwhile, a draw for the 2026 World Cup will be held on December 5th to determine the participating groups. The tournament will run from June 11th to July 19th.
