Will Cristiano Ronaldo retire after the FIFA World Cup? Sister makes a major revelation…

Toronto: The magnificent international career of Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo appears to be reaching its final stage. Katia Aveiro, the sister of star footballer Ronaldo, has claimed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be her brother’s final tournament in the national team jersey. She has described it as Ronaldo’s ‘Last Dance’.

This revelation comes at a time when the 41-year-old Ronaldo continues to make history. He scored a goal in the knockout match against Croatia, securing a thrilling 2-1 victory for Portugal and propelling the team to the next round.

Sister says—Time to say goodbye
Speaking to Sport TV outside the Toronto stadium, Katia Aveiro said, “As far as I know, people can say goodbye to him now. Not today, but I feel this is his farewell journey with the national team. According to reliable sources, this is his ‘Last Dance’—meaning the World Cup.” However, there has been no official announcement regarding retirement from either Ronaldo or the Portuguese Football Federation so far.

Making history again at age 41
In the match played against Croatia in Toronto on Thursday (July 3), Ronaldo scored a goal from a penalty in the second half. With this, he became the oldest player to score in a FIFA World Cup knockout match at the age of 41 years and 147 days.

He surpassed Lionel Messi’s record in this regard. Moreover, this was the first World Cup knockout goal of his career, despite having played in six World Cups. Now, the only player in World Cup history to score at an older age is the Cameroonian legend Roger Milla, who scored in the 1994 World Cup at the age of 42 years and 39 days.

Another Record to His Name
Ronaldo had already set a new record before the match even began. He became the oldest outfield player to feature in a men’s FIFA World Cup knockout match. Croatia’s Luka Modrić was also playing in this match.

This marked the first time in a World Cup match that outfield players over the age of 40 from both teams took the field. This was Ronaldo’s 26th World Cup match. He is now just one match behind Germany’s Lothar Matthäus, while Lionel Messi tops the list.

A Strong Comeback After Criticism
The tournament did not get off to a good start for Ronaldo. In the 1–1 draw against DR Congo, he failed to register a single shot on target, let alone score a goal. He faced significant criticism following that performance. However, the veteran striker made a powerful comeback; he scored two goals against Uzbekistan and then netted the decisive goal against Croatia to secure a victory for the team.

Ronaldo’s Sister Hits Back at Critics
Following Ronaldo’s poor start, reports of discord within the Portugal squad had also surfaced. Katia Aveiro had previously liked a social media post criticizing Bruno Fernandes, which fueled speculation. However, she later openly defended her brother. Katia stated, “Those who truly understand football appreciate Ronaldo. If someone doesn’t like him, that is their loss. He has been showcasing his brilliance to the world for over 20 years.”

Stats That Make Ronaldo Great
Cristiano Ronaldo has played 232 international matches for Portugal to date and scored 146 goals. He holds the record for the most goals scored in the history of men’s international football. If Katia Aveiro’s claim proves to be true, one of the greatest international careers in football history will come to an end after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.