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Ronaldo’s 2026 World Cup Decision Made Clear

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated Jan 14, 2025 12:15 PM ET

With his 40th birthday just weeks away, international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is reaching the final stages of his career.

Having moved to Saudi Arabia to play his club soccer away from the European spotlight, there is one more big opportunity left for Ronaldo to capture the attention of the world again before he hangs up his boots: the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ronaldo has played in — and become the only man to score in — five World Cups, dating back to 2006 in Germany. He has never won the prestigious tournament, but he has led Portugal to win the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and the Nations League in 2019.

His last appearance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar ended in a quarterfinal exit, before watching longtime rival Lionel Messi lift his first World Cup with Argentina.

It is virtually the only trophy that has evaded Ronaldo, though he insists he does not need a World Cup to complete his career.

The 2022 tournament was thought to be the "Last Dance" for the stars of Ronaldo's generation like himself, Messi and Brazil's Neymar.

With the unconventional gap of just three and a half years before the next edition — the Qatar tournament was played in the winter of 2022 — one final attempt at soccer's biggest prize is still in sight for the 39-year-old.

Bruno Fernandes, Ronaldo's longtime teammate with Portugal and Manchester United, made it very clear that he expects to see his captain at the next World Cup in green and red.

"I not only believe it, but I am almost certain that he will be there," Fernandes told TNT Sports Mexico, as translated by ESPN.

Bruno Fernandes is backing Cristiano Ronaldo to be at the 2026 World Cup pic.twitter.com/EiNOxdT5Ft
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 14, 2025

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the majority of games taking place within the U.S.

There is some doubt whether or not Ronaldo would come to the country because of multiple off-field legal cases. He has not been photographed in the U.S. since 2017 and has not played there since 2014.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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