How Cristiano Ronaldo could finish his career in the United States

Cristiano Ronaldo, who will turn 40 in February, has hinted at retiring from soccer on a number of occasions without ever offering a specific date. The former Real Madrid icon is still going strong with Saudi Pro League team Al Nassr and the Portugal national team, which suggests there a chance he could yet feature for his country at World Cup 2026, to be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The draw for the European qualifiers was made on Friday (December 13) and there is no sign Ronaldo won’t be involved when they start in March. Because of their participation in the upcoming UEFA Nations League quarterfinals, Portugal don’t know exactly who they will be facing, although they do know they have two possible paths to the tournament.

Portugal’s possible World Cup 2026 qualifying opponents

Should they win their last-eight tie against Denmark, they will go into Group F, where would take on Hungary, the Republic Ireland and Armenia.

A defeat to the Danes, however, would send them into Group C, in which their opponents would be Greece, Scotland and Belarus.

Following Portugal’s elimination at the hands of Morocco in the quarterfinals of World Cup 2022 in Qatar, it was assumed Ronaldo would never again play in world soccer’s biggest international tournament.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo play in World Cup 2026?

But with the next edition now only 18 months away, and with the veteran having scored 17 goals in 21 internationals in the last two calendar years, perhaps we could see him take part in a record sixth World Cup, which Lionel Messi could match with Argentina.

Ronaldo has won almost everything there is to win in professional soccer, including multiple Champions Leagues, Premier Leagues and LaLiga titles, as well as the European Championship with Portugal in 2016. The World Cup has always eluded him, so what better way to end his career than by finally getting his hands on it at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026?

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