According to sources published by Marca, Katia Aveiro – Cristiano Ronaldo’s older sister – shared emotional thoughts with the Sport TV channel ahead of the round-of-32 match between Portugal and Croatia. Ms. Aveiro confirmed that she had received information from a reliable source that her 41-year-old younger brother will officially say goodbye to the national team shirt after the 2026 World Cup campaign.
“Enjoy it while you still can. It’s almost over. According to the information I have from a reliable source… this will be his last dance,” CR7’s sister emotionally shared with the media in Toronto.
This revelation immediately intensified the heat and historic nature of Portugal’s knockout match. Against the backdrop of an extremely ruthless knockout format, global fans understand that every upcoming match could be the final time they witness the number 7 forward take the pitch in the maroon jersey. The battle with Croatia not only holds the significance of deciding a ticket to advance, but it is also a final chapter full of destiny as Ronaldo faces off against another living legend of world football, Luka Modrić of Croatia.
Nevertheless, Katia Aveiro also reassured fans by emphasizing that this match is not an immediate farewell. The Portuguese superstar’s sister expressed absolute confidence in her home team’s ability to go deep into this year’s tournament. Following a group stage highlighted by a peak performance – a brace that helped Portugal defeat Uzbekistan 2-0 – Ronaldo and his teammates are channeling all their focus toward the goal of reaching the round of 16.
Up to the current moment, neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has made any official announcement regarding his retirement timeline. All decisions are expected to be announced only after Portugal’s journey at the planet’s biggest football festival comes to an end. Even so, the prospect of a “last dance” is turning every run by CR7 at the 2026 World Cup into priceless historic moments for football fans.
