Katia Aveiro, sister of Cristiano Ronaldo, has indicated that the Portugal captain is likely to retire from international football following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Her comments suggest that the tournament in North America will mark the conclusion of his career with the national team.

Speaking to Portuguese media before Portugal‘s round-of-32 match against Croatia, which Portugal won 2-1, Aveiro stated that her brother’s international career is nearing its end. She referred to this period as a “last dance” for the player on the international stage.

When questioned about Ronaldo‘s potential participation in Euro 2028, Aveiro responded, “From the information that I have, you can start to say goodbye, because I believe this is it – so, enjoy it while you can.” She clarified that she was referring specifically to his involvement with the Portuguese national team.

Aveiro added, “I don’t think he’ll retire today, but it will be soon. I truly believe this is the farewell, so enjoy it a lot because… It will be difficult to find someone like him again.” She emphasized that her information came from a reliable source.

Ronaldo’s World Cup performance and legacy

Cristiano Ronaldo is participating in his sixth World Cup and is Portugal‘s most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer. His primary objective remains to secure a World Cup title, adding to Portugal‘s European Championship success in 2016.

Despite his ongoing contributions, Ronaldo‘s performances at the current tournament have drawn scrutiny from some observers. He has scored three goals so far, including two in a 5-0 victory against Uzbekistan and an equalizer against Croatia.

Portugal‘s coach, Roberto Martinez, included Ronaldo in the starting lineup against Croatia, seeking a strong performance to boost the team’s tournament campaign. Ronaldo has accumulated 146 goals in 232 caps for Portugal.

Aveiro addressed critics of her brother, stating, “For very intelligent people, those who understand football, those who like football, have to like Cristiano Ronaldo. Those who don’t like Cristiano Ronaldo, don’t like football – and they miss out.”

She highlighted Ronaldo‘s long-standing impact on the sport: “Ronaldo has been breaking records for 20-something years, do you think we’re not happy? We’ve lived through so much, we’ve achieved so much.”

Looking ahead to the last 16

Ronaldo‘s sister expressed confidence in her brother and the team. “I’m incredibly proud. I was in Qatar, and I’m here. It’s a tremendous pride. I’m confident and we’ll smile at the end. Ronaldo is great and confident, less nervous than us. I felt good energy and confidence. For us fans, it brings comfort. We can trust.”

In the match against Croatia, Ronaldo made his 26th World Cup finals appearance. This achievement places him ahead of Germany‘s Lothar Matthaus in terms of World Cup appearances, with only Lionel Messi having more at 29.

The victory over Croatia has set up a potential clash with Spain in the last 16 of the tournament.

While Portugal is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup, the prospect of Ronaldo playing at the age of 45 has not been officially ruled out, though Aveiro’s recent comments suggest his international career will conclude sooner.

Source: tntsports.co.uk

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