Ronaldo Brushes Off Sister's Retirement Talk After Late Portugal Win Over Croatia

Cristiano Ronaldo helped Portugal survive a tough Round of 32 match against Croatia at the 2026 World Cup, scoring from the penalty spot in the 68th minute to level the score before Goncalo Ramos struck a stoppage-time winner to send Portugal through. The win came just before this story broke, with Ronaldo picking up the Superior Player of the Match award for his performance.

The bigger talking point off the pitch was a comment made by Ronaldo's sister, Katia Aveiro, on Portuguese television. She claimed to have reliable information suggesting this World Cup would be Ronaldo's last major tournament for Portugal, urging fans to enjoy watching him while they still could.

Ronaldo firmly pushed back on this when speaking to reporters after the match. He said the question of his international retirement is not something he is thinking about right now, and that he will only address it once Portugal's World Cup campaign, whether it ends in victory or defeat, is complete.

He explained that any such decision would be made calmly and after discussing it with his family, rather than being announced impulsively in the emotion of the moment. According to him, his sole focus at present is enjoying his time on the field and contributing to the team's success.

This penalty goal was significant for Ronaldo personally, as it was his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match, despite his long international career. It also took his tally for this World Cup to three goals, following two he scored earlier against Uzbekistan in the group stage. His overall international scoring record now stands at 146 goals in 232 matches for Portugal.

The match also carried an emotional weight beyond football. Ronaldo paid tribute to his former teammate Diogo Jota, who died exactly one year before this game. He described the timing as an unbelievable coincidence, noting that his teammates had spoken about it as a group before kickoff, making the victory feel even more meaningful.

With Ronaldo now 41 years old, questions about how much longer he will continue playing for Portugal are natural, especially since his sister's public remarks added fuel to the speculation. However, Ronaldo's own stance suggests he intends to keep such decisions private and made on his own terms, rather than react to rumours or pressure.

For now, Portugal advances further into the World Cup, and Ronaldo remains focused on the ongoing tournament rather than his long-term future with the national team.