Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested he is likely to retire at the end of the season with his motivation to leave “a spectacular legacy.”
The 41-year-old featured at his sixth World Cup this summer in the USA, Canada and Mexico, becoming the first player to achieve such a feat.
Already established among football’s all-time greats, Ronaldo has scored 950 goals for club and country, with discussion ongoing around when he will hang up the boots after suggesting recently that it would be “soon” or within “one or two years”.
”This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo told Vogue.
Ronaldo also detailed how he has his future off the pitch “all mapped out”.
He added: “I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard.
“Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one.”
Cristiano Ronaldo at the FIFA World Cup against Spain in the last 16 round (Getty)Ronaldo married his partner Georgina Rodríguez in Cascais last week.
He suggested that he wanted to “continue to enjoy what I’ve earned – what we’ve earned. Because after all it’s been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice.”
The interview also covered how travel and padel have become his favourite hobbies away from football.
Before Portugal’s last 16 exit against Spain at the World Cup, Ronaldo had snapped at the media over repeated questions surrounding retirement, underlining: "I will retire when I want to, not when you want."
It appears likely that Ronaldo will chase 1,000 senior goals in his immediate future with Al-Nassr, with a contract running until 2027, and the Portuguese national team.
Cristiano Ronaldo with his wife after marrying following the World Cup this summer (Saudi Pro League)Beyond that milestone, it is unclear what Ronaldo is motivated to still achieve after winning five Ballons d'Or, five Champions League titles, league titles in England, Spain and Italy, and the European Championship and Nations League with Portugal.
With Portugal one of the co-hosts for the World Cup in 2030, some had suggested Ronaldo could hold on to play at a seventh World Cup in front of his home fans at 45 years of age.
Ronaldo has rejoined Al-Nassr as new manager Ange Postecoglou looks to build around the Portuguese in defence of the Saudi Pro League title won last term.
Should Ronaldo finish out the season with Al-Nassr, he could play his final matches in May next year.
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