Cristiano Ronaldo turns heads with hint about playing in World Cup with Portugal at age 49

Cristiano Ronaldo made it clear he’s not thinking about retirement anytime soon—and could be eyeing a record-setting run with Portugal.

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy time and expectations. The Portuguese star recently extended his contract with Al Nassr through the summer of 2027, which would keep him on the field until at least age 42. But just hours after that announcement, Ronaldo took it a step further—hinting at the possibility of playing in the FIFA World Cup 2034, which would take place when he’s 49 years old.

In an interview with Al Nassr’s official channel, Ronaldo didn’t shy away from discussing the idea of appearing in a tournament that will be hosted by Saudi Arabia—a country he called “the most beautiful” host for a future World Cup. And in doing so, he reignited his long-standing rivalry with Lionel Messi.

If Ronaldo were to make it to the 2034 tournament, he could surpass Messi in total World Cup appearances, assuming the Argentine legend retires beforehand. “Why not? We don’t know the future. Years ago, I never thought I would be playing in Saudi Arabia,” Ronaldo said with a smile.

He then added a quote that will spark hope among his global fanbase: “Life is a box of surprises. I always live in the present and don’t make decisions based on the future.

Both Ronaldo and Messi have currently played in five World Cups. If they both compete at the 2026 tournament, they will break the all-time record they currently share. But Ronaldo could take it even further: with appearances in both 2030 and 2034, the Portuguese forward could reach eight total World Cup participations—a mark that would be unmatched, with Messi unlikely to pursue the same path.

The other race between Ronaldo and Messi: 1,000 career goals

Messi was the most recent of the two to score, netting a stunning free-kick goal against Porto in the FIFA Club World Cup. That strike brought him to 866 career goals, counting appearances with Argentina, Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami. Still, he trails Ronaldo, who has tallied 937 goals across 1,280 matches at age 40.

From: bolavip.com