Clear decision: Ronaldo has decided on his future after playing professional football until age 40.
On 29 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Cristiano Ronaldo, the 40-year-old Portuguese star striker, revealed the latest about his football future at the Globe Soccer Awards 2025 ceremony in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Cristiano Ronaldo received the Middle East Footballer of the Year award last night after scoring a total of 956 career goals across club and international levels. In 2025 alone, the "CR7" scored 40 goals: 32 for Al Nassr and 8 for the Portugal national team.
Previously, Ronaldo said he planned to make the 2026 World Cup his last, prompting speculation that his professional playing days were nearing an end. However, he recently stated he still has the passion to play and indicated he might return to play in Europe.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Sporting Lisbon striker said, "I am highly committed and want to keep playing. It doesn't matter where I play—whether in the Middle East or Europe. I always enjoy playing football and want to continue doing so."
"My goals remain to score more, win more titles, and push myself to achieve new personal milestones. I will definitely reach 1,000 goals if I avoid injuries."