Cristiano Ronaldo says this season will likely be his final one as a player, closing out a remarkable career.
The 41-year-old married his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, on Tuesday and is considering a future centered on family.
A five-time Ballon d’Or and five-time Champions League winner, Ronaldo has claimed league titles in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia, and he remains the top scorer in men’s international football.
Portugal’s captain has spent nearly four years with Saudi Pro League champions Al-Nassr and has one year left on his contract.
Speaking to Vogue about his wedding, Ronaldo said he expects this to be his last season and wants to finish by leaving a memorable legacy.
He explained that he has his next steps planned, aiming to fill the gap football may leave by spreading his time across different pursuits—having more fun, traveling, watching and playing padel, and enjoying what he and his family have worked for.
He reflected on a 25-year career built on significant sacrifice.
Ronaldo is 24 goals short of reaching 1,000 senior career goals.
His long-time rival Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, recently said he is also unsure how much longer he will keep playing.
Their most recent World Cup experiences diverged: Messi scored eight goals and led Argentina to the final, while Portugal exited in the round of 16.
Asked in July if a sixth World Cup would be his last, Ronaldo said he would decide calmly after discussing it with his family, with a calm head.
Al-Nassr began their Saudi Pro League title defence against Al Fateh on Saturday without Ronaldo, who watched the champions win from the stands alongside his family.