Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that the World Cup to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada will be the last of his career.
The captain of the Portuguese national team will seek to bring home the cup for the first time in his country’s history and in his life in what will be his sixth appearance in the tournament, but his legacy could extend for at least two more years, according to a former teammate of the Portuguese player.
CR7 could play in Euro 2028
The truth is that, although he is playing in his last World Cup, Cristiano has not announced his retirement from soccer, far from it. In fact, his contract with Al-Nassr in the Saudi League runs until 2027, so his time with the Portuguese national team could continue after the World Cup.
Or at least that’s what his former Manchester United teammate Wes Brown believes, who in conversation with Goal revealed that the Portuguese player’s competitive spirit will lead him to want to play at least one more cup wearing his country’s colors: “If he can contribute something to the team, why not select him? Does that mean he has to play every game? Look at the last competition: everyone said he shouldn’t play, but he did well,” he began.
Brown also said that Ronaldo knows very well that if he doesn’t score a goal or provide an assist, he could be criticized, but he’s not willing 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’ll retire from international soccer until he retires completely. He still has the energy, the same belief, and he can still do it. Few people can say that at that level.”
This competition could also be the last for his eternal rival, Lionel Messi, if he decides to play. The Argentine captain and his teammates were crowned champions in Qatar on December 18, 2022, when they defeated Kylian Mbappé’s France. This new edition could be the Portuguese player’s last chance to add this cup to his trophy collection and match the achievement of the Inter Miami star at the same time:
“Believe me, Ronaldo doesn’t need that to prove anything, but he’ll still want to win it,” Brown said. “I’m sure a lot of people would also like to see him achieve it. Will it be easy? No, it will be difficult. But it will definitely be on his agenda,” added the 46-year-old former defender.
Meanwhile, on December 5, the draw for the 2026 World Cup will be held to determine the competition groups. The tournament will be played from June 11 to July 19.
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