00:00Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest footballers of all time, has officially
00:16confirmed that the 2076 FIFA World Cup will definitely be his last. Speaking in
00:24an exclusive interview with CNN's Becky Anderson during the tourism summit in
00:29Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Portugal superstar said he knows when it's time to
00:33step off the global stage. And that moment will come after the next World Cup.
00:39I will be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment in the big competition,
00:44Ronaldo said, smiling but with a touch of finality. His remarks mark the first time
00:50the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has explicitly said he will retire from
00:54international football after the 2026 tournament, ending an international career
00:59that has defined an era. Ronaldo, who has scored an astonishing 143 goals for Portugal,
01:06the most by any male footballer in history, reflected on his career with gratitude and
01:11pride. I'm enjoying the moment, he said, but when I mean soon it's really soon
01:17because I gave everything for football. I'm in the game for the last 25 years,
01:22I did everything. I have many records in different scenarios, in the clubs and also
01:27in the national teams. I'm really proud, so let's enjoy the moment, live the moment.
01:34For millions of fans across the world, Ronaldo's retirement will signal the end of an
01:39unparalleled legacy that began in Madeira and reached unimaginable heights with Manchester United,
01:45Real Madrid, Juventus and now Al Nasser. Across his glittering career, he has lifted five Champions
01:52League trophies, won league titles in three countries and inspired a generation of players with his
01:58relentless drive, discipline and unmatched professionalism. The 2026 FIFA World Cup,
02:06the largest in history with 48 teams, will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
02:13The tournament kicks off on June 11th, 2026 and is expected to be one of the most watched sporting
02:20events ever. The official draw for the tournament will take place on December 5th at the Kennedy Center
02:27in Washington DC. If Portugal qualifies, all eyes will be on Ronaldo to see how he leads his team on
02:34football's biggest stage one last time. Despite the fame and fortune, Ronaldo emphasised during the
02:42interview that family and happiness now take priority. When asked about his son, Cristiano Junior, who
02:49currently plays for a Portuguese under-16 team, Ronaldo said he hopes the next generation can surpass him
02:56both on and off the pitch. Human beings. We don't want nobody being better than us, he said with a laugh.
03:04But in my point, I wish if my kids will be better than me, I'm never going to be jealous of him. Trust me.
03:11He went on to share that as a father, his goal is not to pressure his son to follow in his footsteps,
03:16but to support him unconditionally.
03:20As a father, I'm here to help him to be whatever he wants to be, Ronaldo said.
03:25If he wants to be a football player, I will help him. If he wants to do something else,
03:30I will also help him. What matters to me is that he's happy. As he prepares for what will likely be his
03:36final appearance on football's grandest stage, fans around the world will undoubtedly celebrate the
03:41career of a player whose dedication, excellence and charisma helped redefine the modern game.
03:48The 2026 World Cup may be his last, but Cristiano Ronaldo's legacy will continue to
03:54echo through the sport for generations to come.
04:08I am the one.
04:09There.
04:09There.
04:09There.
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