Cristiano Ronaldo’s ex-teammate names 40-year-old icon’s potential retirement date and it’s not for another 1,000 days
Cristiano Ronaldo has been tipped to keep playing through to the 2030 World Cup despite claiming next year’s edition would be his last.
Ronaldo is set to make history by becoming the first player to play at six World Cups alongside Lionel Messi.
The pair are currently tied for the record with four other players by appearing at the last five tournaments.
Portugal have already booked their place in Canada, Mexico and the USA after a successful qualifying campaign.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo will be available for their opening match after his ban for a recent red card against the Republic of Ireland was reduced.
Having served the first match of the three-game ban, the final two matches were suspended by FIFA.
It means the 40-year-old will be available to play for Portugal from the start of the tournament.
Roberto Martinez’s side will learn their group stage opponents when the draw is made on Friday, live on talkSPORT.
Ronaldo’s recent comments have seemingly confirmed the 2026 World Cup will be his final appearance on the biggest stage.
He has previously played in 22 matches at the tournament since his debut in 2006.
However, his former international team-mate Nuno Gomes believes the five-time Ballon d’Or winner may choose to hang around for what could be a seventh World Cup in 2030.
Gomes on Ronaldo’s retirement plans
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, he told Drive: “It’s a difficult question. I think only him, or maybe not even him, knows the answer because I think he is doing year by year at this age.
“I think he’s still fit to play. He’s a really professional player and one of the players that we can point him as a example to follow? For the young generations.
“But of course he has his age and his capacity is reduced in some qualities, in speed for example.
“He’s not the same Cristiano when he was 18 or 20, but he’s still capable to score goals, and in football, it’s the most important thing, to score goals and he’s still scoring.
“Of course I think it also depends on the coach. Right now we have Roberto Martinez and I think he adapts the team, having him in the first 11 or not. So I think it will depend on his will, to play more or not.
“But probably I could tell that it could be his last World Cup. Even though we know that in four years we are hosting some games. And maybe it could be an opportunity to say goodbye at home.”
Gomes scored 29 goals in 79 caps for Portugal, with 34 of those appearances coming alongside Ronaldo.
The former Benfica striker had been appearing on talkSPORT’s Drive live in Washington D.C. ahead of the World Cup draw.
talkSPORT will have live coverage of the draw as Adrian Durham hosts presents World Cup Drive.
Ronaldo’s World Cup future
Portugal will co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Morocco, whilst Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will also stage one match each.
Ronaldo, who will be 41 by the time next summer’s edition begins, would have the chance to make more history if he is still playing in five years’ time.
The current oldest-ever player at the World Cup is former Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary at 45 years and 161 days against Saudi Arabia in 2018.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo would be 45 years and 166 days old by the end of the 2030 tournament.
It means he would become the tournament’s oldest-ever player if Portugal contest either the final or the third-place play-off.
The veteran forward has already committed to continuing his career until the end of next season.
Ronaldo signed a new two-year deal with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr through to the summer of 2027 in June.
He has since discussed his international future beyond the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking via a video call at the Riyadh World Tourism summit last month, he was asked if it would be his last tournament.
Ronaldo explained: “Definitely, yes. I’m going to be 41 years old and I think it will the moment.”
Oldest-ever World Cup players
- Essam El Hadary – 45 years, five months, 10 days
- Faryd Mondragon – 43 years, three days
- Roger Milla – 42 years, one month, eight days
- Pat Jennings – 41 years
- Peter Shilton – 40 years, nine months, 19 days
The upcoming World Cup comes two decades on from his first appearance at the finals.
A then 21-year-old Ronaldo made his debut against Angola in the group stages of the 2006 World Cup.
Portugal would go on to reach the semi-finals as they finished fourth in Germany.
Across 22 matches at the World Cup, Ronaldo has scored eight goals, leaving him level with the likes of Harry Kane, Neymar and Diego Maradona.
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