Cristiano Ronaldo's sister, Kátia Aveiro, has confirmed that the Portugal captain will retire from international football after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the tournament as his "last dance" with the national team.
Sister's revelation ahead of Croatia clash
The 48-year-old singer made the remark in an interview with Portuguese broadcaster Sport TV ahead of Portugal's Round of 32 clash against Croatia on Thursday night. Aveiro stated, "From the information I have, from a reliable source… this is his last dance." She added, "I believe it's not today that they'll say goodbye, but it's coming soon. I strongly believe this is the farewell… I'm talking about the Portuguese national team."
Call to enjoy Ronaldo's final moments
The mother of three further urged fans to savor Ronaldo's remaining appearances: "Enjoy it while it lasts. It's ending soon… So enjoy it a lot because it will be difficult to find someone after 200 goals." Ronaldo has scored over 130 goals for Portugal, making him the all-time leading international scorer.
Ronaldo deflects retirement talk after victory
Moments after Portugal's 2-1 victory over Croatia in Toronto, the 41-year-old forward declined to specify his retirement timeline. "My future isn't important right now. I'll have time; after winning or losing, I'll talk to my family and then make the best decision," he said. "I don't make decisions in the heat of the moment anymore. Now, everything is done calmly. It's about enjoying the present."
Previous statements align with plan
Ronaldo has previously stated that the 2026 World Cup would "definitely" be his last tournament. The Al Nassr forward scored Portugal's equaliser from the penalty spot against Croatia, contributing to their 2-1 win. The confirmation from his sister adds weight to the expectation that this will be his final international campaign.
