Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing to draw the curtain on one of sport's most remarkable careers, telling Vogue magazine that this season is "probably my last year of football". The admission, made in the context of an interview about his wedding to Georgina Rodriguez on Tuesday, marks the clearest signal yet that the 41-year-old is mapping out a future away from the pitch.

A career measured in records

The numbers are almost incomprehensible. Five Ballon d'Or awards, five Champions League titles, and league championships across England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo remains the all-time top scorer in men's international football, and he heads into what could be his final season at Al-Nassr — Saudi Pro League champions — with 24 goals still required to reach the milestone of 1,000 senior career goals.

It is a target that adds a compelling subplot to the year ahead. Whether he reaches it or falls short, Ronaldo's intent is clear: he wants to finish with a flourish. "I want to leave a spectacular legacy," he told the magazine, the tone of someone already composing a final chapter.

Family at the centre of what comes next

Ronaldo has one year remaining on his contract at Al-Nassr, and the noises out of the player's own camp suggest he is increasingly focused on family life. Newly married and reflective after 25 years of professional football, he spoke candidly about the void the game will leave behind.

"Football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one," he said. "Have more fun, travel more, watch and play padel, which I really like, and continue to enjoy what I've earned — what we've earned. Because after all it's been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice."

He added: "I have my future all mapped out. I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard."

Messi in the same conversation

The retirement discussion inevitably draws in Lionel Messi. The Argentine, who holds the Ballon d'Or record with eight wins, has recently suggested he is also uncertain about how much longer he will continue. The careers of both men have defined an era of the game; the idea of them stepping away in the same general window feels like a genuine end of an epoch.

Their final World Cup campaigns did contrast starkly. Messi scored eight goals as Argentina lifted the trophy, while Ronaldo's Portugal were eliminated at the round of 16 stage. Asked in July whether a sixth World Cup would be on the agenda, Ronaldo said he would decide "with a calm head" after consulting his family — language that now reads as part of a broader winding-down process.

Al-Nassr begin without him

Al-Nassr opened their Saudi Pro League title defence against Al Fateh at the weekend, with Ronaldo watching from the stands alongside his family rather than featuring in the matchday squad. It was a low-key start to what the man himself is framing as a season of legacy. Whether he finishes on 1,000 goals, lands another league title or bows out quietly, the game is already bracing itself for life without its most-watched figure.

After 25 years and every trophy the club game has to offer, Cristiano Ronaldo is finally sounding like a man who has done enough.

Frequently asked

When is Cristiano Ronaldo retiring from football?
Ronaldo has indicated this current season — 2025-26 — will "probably" be his last. He has one year remaining on his contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr and made the comments in a Vogue interview published in July 2025.
How many career goals does Cristiano Ronaldo have?
Ronaldo is approximately 24 goals away from reaching 1,000 senior career goals, a landmark he could still achieve during his final season if he remains fit and in form at Al-Nassr.
What club does Cristiano Ronaldo play for now?
Ronaldo currently plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where he has spent almost four years. The club are the reigning Saudi Pro League champions and he has one year left on his contract.