Cristiano Ronaldo is turning 40 in three weeks but the Portuguese superstar shows no signs of slowing down just yet. Starting the 2025 calendar year with a goal for Al-Nassr, Ronaldo got on the scoresheet for the 24th consecutive year since 2002.
With the shortfall of 1,000 career goals slowly diminishing, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could potentially extend his career a little further to 2026 in order to participate in a sixth World Cup. Ronaldo will turn 41 before the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Although there may be doubts over his potential appearance at another global event, Ronaldo’s Portugal teammate Bruno Fernandes remains optimistic. “I am not only confident, but I am almost certain that he will be there. It would be great if Cristiano Ronaldo fulfills his dream of winning the World Cup with the national team, not only for him, but also for us Portuguese people. We really want to give that to our country. For him, as the last reference in our football, this would be the best way to end,” the Manchester United captain told TNT Sports.
The World Cup trophy is the only major silverware missing from Ronaldo’s cabinet and his long-standing rivalry with Lionel Messi.
“Even if he has won the World Cup, I don’t know whether he would want to stop or go a little further. There are always things to improve and learn. You can see that in Cristiano, who wants to do more every year, wants to be better. For those who still doubt, he does much more. The most important thing for us is to go to the World Cup and win. “This is the dream of all of us, Cristiano Ronaldo fans and our country,” Fernandes said.
Ronaldo is the only player to score in five different FIFA World Cup editions, appearing in every tournament since 2006. With his international record of a staggering 135 goals in 217 matches, Ronaldo could potentially be the first man to appear in six World Cups. Final.
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