Will Ronaldo Follow Messi’s Footsteps? Cristiano Ronaldo Retirement Plans After Messi’s Argentina Exit
Lionel Messi has officially closed the international chapter of his legendary career, and now football fans are asking the question that seemed impossible a few years ago:
Will Ronaldo follow Messi’s footsteps?
Messi announced his retirement from international football on August 31, 2026 bringing an emotional end to his Argentina career after 207 appearances and 125 goals. He leaves the national team as a World Cup winner, two time Copa America champion and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
But Cristiano Ronaldo’s situation is different and perhaps even more intriguing.
The Portugal captain has already given the cleartest indication yet that his playing career could be approaching its final chapter. In August, Ronaldo said the upcoming season would probably be his last, while also revealing that he already has plans for life after football.
So, is Ronaldo retiring in 2027?
The evidence suggests that retirement after the 2026-27 season is now a realistic possibility. But there is still an important distinction between a retirement hint and an officially announced retirement date.
Ronaldo Retirement News: What Did Cristiano Ronaldo Actually Say?
The latest Cristiano Ronaldo retirement speculation started because of Ronaldo’s own comments.
Rather than giving fans a definite date, the Portugal superstar indicated that the coming season could be his final one as a professional footballer.
That is a major development.
Ronaldo has spent more than two decades at the top level and has repeatedly demonstrated an extraordinary desire to continue playing. Even at 41, he remains one of football’s most prolific goalscorers.
Reuters reported that Ronaldo described the upcoming year as probably his final season.
That means the question has moved from:
“Will Ronaldo ever retire?”
to:
“When will Ronaldo decide that the time has finally come?”
Will Ronaldo Follow Messi’s Footsteps?
There is a strong possibility that Ronaldo will follow Messi into international retirement, but their paths are not identical.
Messi retired from Argentina after reaching the 2026 World Cup final and losing to Spain in extra time. He had already won the 2022 World Cup and major Copa America titles, meaning his international legacy was complete.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, has already suggested that his professional career could end after the current season.
That creates an unusual possibility:
Both Messi and Ronaldo could leave football’s biggest stage within a very short period of each other.
The era that defined modern football for more than 15 years could therefore be coming to its final conclusion.
Cristiano Ronaldo Retirement From International Football: Will Portugal Be Next?
This is the biggest unanswered question.
Ronaldo has not, in the latest reports, formally announced a separate retirement date from Portugal.
However, his comments about his overall playing career make it difficult to imagine him continuing internationally for many more years.
At 41, Ronaldo is already at an age when almost every international appearance becomes a historical event.
His longevity is extraordinary.
He has represented Portugal across multiple generations and has become the country’s all-time leading scorer and one of the most capped players in international football. Reuters recently listed him as the men’s international goals record-holder with 146 goals.
If he retires after the 2026-27 season, Portugal could soon have to prepare for life without its greatest goalscorer.
Is Ronaldo Retiring in 2027?
Possibly and this is currently the most realistic retirement scenario.
Ronaldo’s comments strongly point toward the end of the 2026–27 season as a potential finishing line.
But SportsHab readers should understand the difference between:
- Retirement speculation
- Retirement hint
- Likely retirement timeline
- Official retirement announcement
At present, the strongest evidence supports a retirement hint, not a formal announcement with a fixed date.
That distinction is important for accurate sports journalism.
Will Ronaldo Play Another World Cup?
This question has effectively been answered by the timing.
Ronaldo has already played at the 2026 World Cup, which became his sixth World Cup appearance. He also became the first player to score at six different World Cups.
A seventh World Cup in 2030 would require Ronaldo to remain an international player into his mid-40s.
Given his recent retirement comments, that appears extremely unlikely.
Therefore, if Ronaldo follows through on his current plans, the 2026 World Cup was effectively his final World Cup.
That makes his international legacy even more remarkable.
Ronaldo vs Messi: Who Is Retiring First?
Messi has already made his decision.
Ronaldo has not officially retired yet.
That means the current situation is:
| Player | Current status | International future |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Retired from Argentina | Argentina career over |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Still playing | Retirement likely approaching |
Messi’s Argentina career ended at 39.
Ronaldo is 41 and appears to be considering retirement after the 2026–27 season.
The two legends are therefore reaching the end of their careers at almost exactly the same moment in football history.
Ronaldo on Messi Retirement
Messi’s retirement has inevitably renewed the conversation around Ronaldo.
For years, the two players were compared almost every week.
They dominated the Ballon d’Or conversation.
They broke scoring records.
They faced each other in El Clasico.
They moved from Europe to new leagues.
And now both are approaching retirement.
But there is no evidence that Ronaldo is retiring because Messi has retired.
That is an important distinction.
Ronaldo had already spoken about his own retirement plans before Messi’s August 31 announcement. His comments indicate that he had been thinking about life after football independently.
So the idea that Ronaldo is simply following Messi makes a great headline, but the reality is more nuanced.
Ronaldo and Messi: The Greatest Rivalry in Football History
For almost two decades, Ronaldo Messi was the defining rivalry of world football.
Messi represented extraordinary natural technique, dribbling, vision and playmaking.
Ronaldo developed into an extraordinary athlete, goalscorer and physical competitor.
Their styles were completely different.
Yet their numbers were so extraordinary that comparing them became unavoidable.
Messi eventually won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022.
Ronaldo won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League.
Both became their countries’ greatest modern football icons.
And both built legendary club careers.
Messi vs Ronaldo: Career Legacy Comparison
| Category | Lionel Messi | Cristiano Ronaldo |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Argentina | Portugal |
| International goals | 125 | 146 |
| World Cup titles | 1 | 0 |
| Copa America / Euro | Copa America titles | Euro 2016 |
| Ballon d’Or | 8 | 5 |
| Champions League | 4 | 5 |
| Major scoring legacy | Argentina & Barcelona/Inter Miami | Portugal & multiple European clubs |
| Playing style | Playmaker + goalscorer | Goalscorer + athletic forward |
| International status | Retired | Still playing |
Messi leaves international football with 125 goals in 207 appearances. Ronaldo remains ahead on international goals, with 146 according to Reuters’ latest reporting.
This is one of the most fascinating parts of their legacy:
Messi has the World Cup. Ronaldo has the international scoring record.
Ronaldo 970 Goals: Why 1,000 Matters So Much
One of the biggest reasons Ronaldo may want to continue playing is the 1,000-goal milestone.
Ronaldo reached the 970-goal mark during the 2026 calendar year and has continued his pursuit of the extraordinary target. ESPN is currently tracking his journey toward 1,000 career goals.
That leaves him only around 30 goals short of the historic number based on the 970-goal milestone.
For a player who has built his career around records, 1,000 goals would represent perhaps the most spectacular final chapter imaginable.
It could also explain why Ronaldo’s retirement timeline remains closely linked to his goalscoring ambitions.
CR7 Total Goals: How Close Is Ronaldo to 1,000?
The exact total can change after every match, which is why SportsHab should update this figure whenever Ronaldo scores.
The key milestone is:
Ronaldo reached 970 career goals in 2026.
He is therefore chasing the symbolic 1,000-goal barrier.
ESPN’s current tracker follows his progress toward that target.
If Ronaldo continues scoring regularly during the 2026–27 campaign, the 1,000-goal milestone could arrive before his eventual retirement.
That would give him a perfect statistical ending to one of football’s greatest careers.
Ronaldo Goals: Why His Numbers Are Different From Messi’s
Messi and Ronaldo have both scored extraordinary numbers, but their methods are different.
Messi has historically combined goals with elite playmaking.
Ronaldo gradually transformed from a winger into one of the most devastating penalty-box finishers football has ever produced.
His ability to score with:
- Both feet
- Headers
- Free kicks
- Penalties
- Long-range shots
- Counter-attacks
- One-touch finishes
has allowed him to remain productive well beyond the age when most elite forwards decline.
That is one reason Ronaldo age has become almost irrelevant to his goalscoring reputation.
Ronaldo Age: How Is CR7 Still Doing It at 41?
Cristiano Ronaldo was born on February 5, 1985, making him 41 in 2026.
At an age when most professional footballers have already retired, Ronaldo continues to play at the highest professional level.
His longevity has been built around extraordinary physical preparation, nutrition, recovery, discipline and an obsessive approach to training.
But age eventually catches every athlete.
Ronaldo appears to understand that.
His recent comments suggest that he is now thinking seriously about what comes after football rather than simply trying to extend his career indefinitely.
Ronaldo Retirement Speculation: The 1,000-Goal Theory
There is an obvious theory surrounding Ronaldo’s future:
Will he retire after reaching 1,000 goals?
It would make perfect sense from a narrative perspective.
He has spent much of his career chasing records.
He is approaching 1,000 career goals.
He has already played six World Cups.
He has won major trophies with Portugal.
And he has built a legacy that is unlikely to be matched.
If he reaches 1,000 before the end of the 2026–27 season, Ronaldo could decide there is nothing left he needs to prove.
However, this remains analysis rather than a confirmed retirement condition.
Ronaldo himself has not said, “I will retire immediately after scoring 1,000 goals.”
Could Ronaldo Continue Until Euro 2028?
This is the alternative scenario.
If Ronaldo changes his mind and continues playing beyond the 2026–27 season, Euro 2028 could become a possible target.
But there is a major obstacle.
By the summer of Euro 2028, Ronaldo would be 43.
His recent statement that the current season is probably his last makes a Euro 2028 appearance look unlikely at present.
Still, Ronaldo has surprised football fans repeatedly throughout his career.
So completely ruling it out would be premature.
What Does Ronaldo Have Left to Achieve?
This is where the argument becomes interesting.
1,000 career goals
This is probably the biggest individual target remaining.
Another major Portugal trophy
Portugal’s next generation will eventually have to take greater responsibility.
More records
Ronaldo already owns an extraordinary number of scoring records.
His legacy
At this stage, he is no longer playing to prove that he was great.
He is playing while he still believes he can compete.
Cristiano Ronaldo Retirement From International Football: The Most Likely Scenario
My assessment is that Ronaldo’s international retirement is now much more likely than another World Cup appearance.
If his current retirement plan remains unchanged, the most logical timeline is:
2026 World Cup → 2026–27 club season → possible 1,000 goals → retirement
That would mean Portugal’s Euro 2028 campaign begins without him.
It would also place the end of the Messi-Ronaldo era almost perfectly.
What Messi’s Retirement Means for Ronaldo
Messi’s departure could have an emotional effect on football fans, but there is no evidence that Ronaldo is changing his plans because of it.
Instead, Messi’s retirement highlights something that was already happening:
The greatest rivalry of the modern era is ending.
Messi has now left international football.
Ronaldo is considering leaving professional football.
Neymar’s career has also been affected by injuries.
Other members of their generation have already disappeared from the biggest stages.
A new generation led by players such as Kylian Mbappe and others is taking over.
Ronaldo Net Worth: What Comes After Football?
Retirement would not mean Ronaldo disappearing from the public eye.
Quite the opposite.
Ronaldo has built one of the world’s biggest personal brands.
Forbes estimated that he earned about $300 million during the year covered by its 2026 highest-paid-athletes ranking, making him the world’s highest-paid athlete for the fourth consecutive year.
Forbes Africa has also reported an estimated Ronaldo net worth of around $1.2 billion.
Other estimates have placed his wealth even higher, so net-worth figures should be treated as estimates rather than audited facts.
His businesses, sponsorships, hotels, fashion, fitness ventures and massive social-media following mean Ronaldo could remain one of the world’s most recognisable sports personalities long after retirement.
Ronaldo’s Life After Football Could Be Huge
Ronaldo has already indicated that he has plans for life beyond football.
He has spoken about travelling, spending more time enjoying life and playing padel, while acknowledging that football could leave a significant hole in his daily routine.
That suggests his retirement will not simply be:
football ends → Ronaldo disappears.
Instead, CR7 could move into an even larger business and media role.
Messi and Ronaldo: Two Very Different Farewells
The contrast between the two is fascinating.
Messi leaves Argentina after achieving the ultimate international prize.
His story went from heartbreak in major finals to Copa America success, the World Cup and finally international retirement.
Ronaldo’s story is different.
He leaves Portugal as its greatest goalscorer and a European champion, but without a World Cup trophy.
Messi’s international career therefore has the perfect sporting redemption story.
Ronaldo’s is more about longevity, records and relentless competitiveness.
Both are legendary.
Their definitions of greatness are simply different.
Will Ronaldo Follow Messi’s Footsteps? Our Verdict
Yes, probably — but not because Messi retired.
The evidence suggests Ronaldo was already moving toward retirement.
His own statement that the upcoming season could probably be his last is the strongest clue.
The 1,000-goal target could provide an additional motivation to continue until he reaches the milestone.
But another World Cup in 2030 looks extremely unlikely.
And Euro 2028 would require Ronaldo to continue playing internationally into his 43rd year.
Our prediction:
Cristiano Ronaldo is more likely to retire after the 2026–27 season than to play at the 2030 World Cup.
If he reaches 1,000 career goals during that period, the timing would be almost perfect.
And if that happens, football could witness one of the most symbolic endings imaginable:
Messi leaves Argentina. Ronaldo reaches 1,000 goals and leaves the game.
The greatest football rivalry of the 21st century would finally close its final chapter.
Final Takeaway
Lionel Messi has officially said goodbye to Argentina.
Cristiano Ronaldo has not yet officially retired, but his own words have made the possibility of a 2027 retirement very real.
At 41, with around 1,000 career goals within reach and no obvious need to prove anything else, Ronaldo may be approaching the final season of his extraordinary career.
The biggest question is no longer whether CR7 can keep playing.
It is whether he wants to.
And if Ronaldo eventually walks away after the 2026–27 season, the football world may look back on this period as the true ending of the Messi-Ronaldo era.
