Cristiano Ronaldo Postpones Retirement Plans to Compete at 2026 FIFA World Cup

• Cristiano Ronaldo has a contract with Al0Nassr until 2025 and is eager to extend that deal
• Ronaldo was eyeing retirement in 2024 but wants to compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
• Ronaldo believes that comparisons will never end between him and his rival, Lionel Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo has no plans of hanging up his boots as planned.

The Portuguese superstar, who currently plays his football in Saudi Arabia, was looking to end his international career in 2024 but has now changed his mind.

As noted by Tribuna, Ronaldo has told Al-Nassr that he wants to extend his contract until 2027 because he wants to compete at the 2026 World Cup.

His current deal with the Saudi Arabian side ends in 2025.

Ronaldo’s plans for World Cup 2026

The Portuguese star will turn 41 in 2026 when the next tournament takes place in the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada.

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While Ronaldo has broken and set many records in his career, including becoming the highest-ever goal-scorer in international football, the thing he covets most is a World Cup trophy.

Portugal were eliminated at the quarter-final stage in Qatar last year and to rub salt in the wounds, Lionel Messi’s Argentina won the tournament.

Ronaldo’s thoughts on Messi rivalry

As noted by The Mirror, Ronaldo admitted that even if he wins the World Cup, the comparisons with Messi will never end.

"Even if I win the World Cup, that will continue. Some people like me more, some less. It’s like in life, some like blondes, some like brunettes."

He added that he was ambitious and wanted to win the big one, but he was also proud of all he had achieved in his career.

"In the history books, all other records will be there. But obviously, a World Cup on the shelf wouldn’t be bad. It would be a dream," Ronaldo concluded.

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Ronaldo caught ‘lying’ about Portugal’s chances

Meanwhile, as Sports Brief also reported, Ronaldo does not believe Portugal can win the FIFA World Cup.

That is according to a lie detector test conducted on the veteran in collaboration with Binance recently.

Critics have questioned Ronaldo's status as the greatest of all time due to his failure to clinch a World Cup title.