Cristiano Ronaldo Reveals Retirement Plan and Discusses Dream Final Transfer

Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that he plans to retire within the next three years but emphasized that he still has unfinished business on the field.

Currently playing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, where he signed in December 2022 after a turbulent exit from Manchester United, the 39-year-old is winding down a legendary career that saw him rise to fame during his first stint at United and nine-year tenure at Real Madrid.

Though his move to Saudi Arabia has taken him away from top-tier European football, Ronaldo did participate in Euro 2024 with Portugal, which now seems likely to be his last appearance in European competition.

While some fans may have hoped for a final return to his boyhood club, Sporting Lisbon, Ronaldo has indicated that he will likely finish his career at Al-Nassr.

"I don't know if I will retire soon, in two or three years... but probably I will retire here at Al-Nassr. I'm very happy at this club, I feel good in this country too. I'm happy to play in Saudi Arabia and I want to continue," Ronaldo shared with NOW.

Ronaldo started every game for Portugal at Euro 2024 but did not manage to score. Despite scoring three goals in Al-Nassr's first three matches of the season, the 39-year-old is eyeing another call-up for September's Nations League games.

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However, Ronaldo hinted that the end of his international career is also on the horizon. For now, his focus remains on playing, as he has ruled out any immediate move into coaching.

"When I leave the national team, I won't tell anyone in advance and it will be a very spontaneous decision on my part, but also a very well thought-out one," Ronaldo added.

"Right now what I want is to be able to help the national team in their upcoming matches. We have the Nations League ahead of us and I would really like to play. At the moment, I'm not thinking about being a coach of the first team or any team.

"It doesn't even cross my mind, I've never thought about it. I don't see my future going through that. I see myself doing other things outside of football, but only God knows what the future holds."

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez has set an ambitious target for his team: winning the 2026 World Cup. By then, Cristiano Ronaldo may have retired, but the Spanish coach believes the superstar still plays a crucial role for the national side.

“When we talk about Cristiano, we are talking about a striker who scores goals. But our striker is much more than this. I was happy with his discipline. He opened up spaces, reacted to losing the ball, and I think the lack of goals from Cristiano was shared in general around the team," he told zerozero.

"We lacked goals from players in the box, from Rafael Leão, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, for example. What Ronaldo did as a striker was what we expected from him. Overall he worked very well.”