Cristiano Ronaldo: The Announcement You Didn’t Expect

Is Cristiano Ronaldo retiring? There hasn’t been an official announcement yet, but the Portuguese legend’s comments to Vogue seem to indicate that his farewell to professional soccer is drawing ever closer. At 41 and after a long and extraordinary career, CR7 has in fact admitted: “This is probably my last year as a soccer player, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy.”

These words sound almost like a farewell, even though Ronaldo hasn’t yet set an official date to hang up his cleats. The Portuguese star has already begun thinking about life after soccer: “I’ve already planned my future. I have so many things to take care of that it’s hard to name just one.” The former star of Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus explained that he is aware of the huge void soccer might leave in his daily life. “Soccer could leave a huge void; you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one,” he said.

Among his plans are more travel, padel—one of his great passions—and, above all, the chance to enjoy more fully what he has built over a quarter-century spent at the highest levels. “I’d also like to have more fun, travel more, watch and play padel, and continue to enjoy what I’ve earned—or rather, what we’ve earned. Because, after all, it’s been 25 years filled with many sacrifices.”

First, however, there’s still one last major goal. Ronaldo continues to chase the 1,000-goal mark in his career. The countdown has now entered its final phase: he has scored 976 goals, with just 24 separating him from the symbolic milestone that could represent the definitive crowning achievement of an unparalleled career. Then, perhaps, the time will truly come for tears, toasts, and memories—those of a champion who has dominated world soccer for a quarter of a century and who, even on the day of his farewell, might leave one final chapter to be written in his immense legacy.