Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players ever to play the sport of football, and in some people’s eyes, he’s the G.O.A.T. This summer, he will head to North America to represent his beloved Portugal in what will be his final appearance at a World Cup finals. So what can we expect of him at the tournament, and what’s next for the football icon?

Bowing Out At The World Cup

At present, football betting odds are only giving Portugal an outside chance of winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer, but that won’t stop Cristiano Ronaldo from dreaming of success in North America. While he’s won everything there is to win as a player across multiple countries and leagues at club level, and the Euros at international level, the World Cup is the one trophy missing, and being able to help deliver that for Portugal will be the perfect way to sign off as an international footballer.

Ronaldo has spoken about it not being a priority for him, but this tournament will be the final appearance at the World Cup finals for him and for long-time rival Lionel Messi. The Argentinian helped his nation on their way to success in Qatar 2022, so if Ronaldo could do the same this summer, it would be the ultimate achievement.

Scoring 1000 Goals Remains The Target

Ronaldo, at 41 years old, is still going strong. He’s been in electric goalscoring form for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League once again, with 22 goals scored in 26 games in all competitions. The target for the Portuguese icon for a long time has been to score 1000 goals officially in his career, and with just 35 goals to go, as he’s currently sitting on 965 scored, he’s going to hit the target sooner rather than later.

While there are still games for Ronaldo to play between now and the end of the season for Al-Nassr, it could be at the World Cup where he gets over the line, which would be a spectacle to behold on the biggest stage of them all. And, even if he doesn’t reach 1000 goals by the summer, he will be playing for Al-Nassr for at least one more season, as he’s contracted until 2027.

Ronaldo After Football

It’s public knowledge that Ronaldo has multiple brand deals and business interests outside of football, after investing his money and time throughout his playing career. He recently announced that he’d purchased a 25% stake in Spanish outfit UD Almeria, who are pushing for promotion to La Liga this season. Operating on the business side of the sport is something Ronaldo seems keen on, and his investment in Almeria could be the first step.

Reports suggest that Ronaldo could make more investments in football as time goes on, which will likely accelerate when his playing days are over. He’s also got key people around him, such as super agent Jorge Mendes, who could help him transition into this world.

Conclusion

Cristiano Ronaldo will go down in history as one of the greatest players to ever grace a football pitch. At 41, he’s still scoring goals and will play an integral part in Portugal’s chances at the upcoming World Cup. Once he hits 1000 goals and his contract with Al-Nassr ends, it will be interesting to see which direction he goes in next.