Cristiano Ronaldo will celebrate his 40th birthday in February, but the famous forward isn't planning to retire any time soon. In fact, he is determined to win the major football prize: the World Cup. The international championship will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. So football fans are looking forward to seeing the Portuguese star ending his legendary career on a high note. Many of them are ready to bet on the potential winner of the 2026 World Cup at GGBET.
Christiano Ronaldo was far away from the European spotlight after continuing his football career in Saudi Arabia. While he is planning to play into his 40s, he doesn't have many opportunities to catch the public attention again. This is why he is strongly determined to win the World Cup 2026 with his national team before handing up his shoes. For now, Ronaldo is in the process of negotiations with Al-Nassr, trying to reach a new deal worth $204 million. The contract might be signed until 2026 and make the Portuguese star the best-paid football player in the world. Saudi Arabia is ready to pay that huge amount of money while trying to turn the country into global football's center of gravity.
After joining Al-Nassr, the top football club from Saudi Arabia, in winter 2022, Ronaldo played 90 matches, hit over 80 goals, and delivered around 20 assists. A skill level that few young players can demonstrate. The age is just a number when it comes to Ronaldo's capabilities and passion for football.
His first international championship took place in Germany in 2006. Since then, his national team still hasn't won the prestigious tournament. However, they triumphed in the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and the Nations League in 2019. Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup will be the player's last opportunity to make history and lift the highly desired trophy.
Bruno Fernandes, who played alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United, expressed utter respect for his colleague. In the interview for the sports channel, he made an assumption that Christiano Ronaldo would join the Portuguese squad for the World Cup 2026. He is one of the most hard-working players in football history, so his desire to collect all the possible football rewards by the end of his career is quite clear.
Ronaldo's former coach, Fernando Santos, also stays optimistic about the player's near future. He expects Ronaldo to stay at a high level until late in his career. He also has no doubts that the play will be at the 2026 World Cup.
The Portuguese star has made it obvious that retirement isn't in his nearest plans. He seems to be highly motivated to play as long as his physical condition is satisfactory. With the World Cup 2026 on the horizon, Ronaldo wants to break his own record by joining six championships in a row. In 2024, he hit 7 goals in 12 matches for Portugal, remaining a key player in the team. No wonder, his teammates want to see him leading their attacks next year.
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