Very rarely in life do we get an opportunity to say goodbye in real time.The end often comes before we know it’s the case. But, as he enters his sixth and final World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo may well be saying goodbye to the footballing world.
Five Champions Leagues. Five Ballons d’Or. Domestic success in four different countries. He has two Nations League titles and a European Championship as well.
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Cristiano Ronaldo won a league title in a fourth different country after Al-Nassr claimed the Saudi Pro League title
All that eludes him is the famous gold trophy.If he doesn’t win it, the World Cup probably won’t be his curtain call. His obsession with greatness means that he probably won’t let go of the 1000 goals landmark that he is currently 27 away from.
Imagine if he does do it, though. Could there be a better ending?
Regardless, the most-capped international player will likely never feature on a global stage like this again. In that sense, this is a last dance for an all-time great.
If it is to be the end, Ronaldo will leave behind an intriguing legacy at the world’s biggest tournament. A legacy in which he could have several milestones to his name, yet is still rather unfulfilled.What records are there still to be won?After this summer, only Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will have played at six World Cups. However, should he find the net at least once, he will do what he wasn’t able to at the Euros two years ago and become the first player to score at six different World Cups.As for appearances in total, Messi currently leads the way with 26. Ronaldo is four behind on 22. It is impossible to think that Messi doesn’t feature for Argentina. But on the slim chance the defending champions get knocked out in the group stages, he could only climb to 29 appearances.
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2026-06-17 08:00:00
