Ronaldo defies time.. Will the "Don" appear in the 2030 World Cup?

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, the winger of Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr football team, has exploded a surprise of a heavy caliber related to his future with his country's national team, pointing out that his ambition may exceed the next edition of the World Cup to reach the 2030 World Cup, which his country is hosting alongside Spain and Morocco.

Next stop: 2026 World Cup

Ronaldo, 41, is preparing to compete in the 2026 World Cup this summer in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Through this participation, veteran Ronaldo seeks  to achieve the biggest dream and crown his legendary career with the World Cup title for the first time in its history, as Portugal plays in Group 11 alongside Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uzbekistan.

Ambition for 2030

Contrary to expectations that the 2026 World Cup would be the last stop, Ronaldo opened the door to the possibility of him continuing until the age of 45.

Ronaldo said: "When people talk about the 2030 World Cup, what will make me seriously think about participating is how much I can score goals at the time."

Criteria for Sustainability: Energy and Enthusiasm

Ronaldo added in a confident tone: "If I'm 41 years old and I still have the energy, the enthusiasm and the consistency in front of goal, I won't hesitate to play."

These statements come in light of the Portuguese star's continued glow and high scoring efficiency during 2026, which strengthened his contribution to leading his country's national team attack in major international forums.