Cristiano Ronaldo Teases Retirement Timeline in New Exclusive Interview with Vogue

World football legend Cristiano Ronaldo could be approaching his farewell campaign on the pitch.

Ronaldo told Vogue's Gaby Wood that "this is probably my last year of football," and he has started to contemplate life after stepping away from the sport.

"I have my future all mapped out," he said. "I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard. Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one. And also 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."

Last November, Ronaldo said the 2026 World Cup would be his last with Portugal, and he went a step further by suggesting he might only keep competing at the club level for another one or two years.

The impact of the 41-year-old's eventual retirement will be somewhat lessened by the fact he plies his trade with Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. He has been outside of the traditional spotlight for a while now.

In addition, the decline in Ronaldo's game is impossible to ignore when he's matched up against the world's best. In Portugal's five World Cup matches, he scored three goals, two of which came in a 5-0 rout over Uzbekistan.

Some believe the national team will benefit from sidelining its most notable attacker.

Still, Ronaldo is one of the defining stars of his era.

A five-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, he won domestic titles in England, Spain and Italy, and he's a five-time Champions League winner across spells with Manchester United and Real Madrid. His competitive rivalry with Lionel Messi was one of the sport's biggest storylines when they were each in their prime.

Ronaldo has been a fixture for 20 years, going back to when he scored 17 goals as United won the Premier League in 2006-07. It will be a little jarring when he hangs up the boots.