Kátia Aveiro, sister of Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, has sparked massive speculation ahead of Portugal’s crucial 2026 World Cup Round of 32 clash against Croatia, hinting that the ongoing tournament will be the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s “last dance” with the national team.
At 41 years old, questions regarding Ronaldo’s potential retirement have been looming constantly. Whether at the international or club level, the “Portuguese talisman” has never specified an exact date to hang up his boots, only loosely estimating in 2025 that he intended to play for a couple more years.
Kátia Aveiro Teases Impending Portugal Farewell
Speaking to reporters outside BMO Field in Toronto just before the knockout match against Croatia, Aveiro revealed: “From the information I have, he can say goodbye. Enjoy it while it lasts. It’s not today that he’s saying goodbye, but it’s soon.”
Her statements also implied the possibility of an official send-off ceremony back home in Portugal once the World Cup concludes. She added: “I believe this is his farewell [with the national team]. Enjoy it a lot. It will be difficult to find someone like him.”
The Quest for 1,000 Goals vs International Retirement
When questioned about whether Ronaldo would wait to score his 1,000th career goal before officially retiring, Kátia clarified: “Reaching 1,000 goals? Yes, that’s something. But I’m talking specifically about the national team. The information I have, from a reliable source, makes me believe this [World Cup] is his last dance.”
Ronaldo enters the 2026 World Cup knockout stage holding two historic all-time records in men’s international football: the most-capped player in history with 231 appearances, and the all-time top international goalscorer with 145 goals.
