Is Cristiano Ronaldo at 41 not having his 'last dance'? Possibility of competing in the 2030 World Cup at age 45

*This content was translated by AI.

One of the reasons the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, just over a month away, is drawing particular attention is that it is expected to feature an unusually large number of 'last dances' by star players. Son Heung-min (34, LAFC), Lionel Messi (39, Inter Miami), Mohamed Salah (34, Liverpool), Luka Modric (41, AC Milan), and others are highly likely to be playing in their final World Cup. It is even possible to assemble a best 11 of star players who are very likely to conclude their World Cup journeys after this tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo (41, Al-Nassr), born in 1985, has long been cited as a representative candidate for a 'last dance'. Having participated in the World Cup since the 2006 tournament in Germany, Ronaldo is widely expected to conclude his World Cup career alongside Messi, having already set the record for the most World Cup appearances with six. Given his age, this is also a reasonable prediction.

However, predictions have begun to emerge that the North American World Cup may not be Ronaldo's final World Cup stage. On the 9th (Korea time), Qatari media BeIN Sports highlighted the possibility, stating, "Ronaldo is overturning common sense in football," and noting, "Many already believe Ronaldo could make his career's final chapter by competing in the World Cup at the age of 45."

Three main factors underlie this possibility. First, despite being born in 1985, Ronaldo continues to maintain his physical condition in a way that is "hard to believe." Rene Muelstein, a former senior coach at Manchester United, recently sparked discussion by explaining, "Physically, he is maintaining the condition of a man in his early 30s." Ronaldo also played 34 matches for Al-Nassr this season, scoring an impressive 28 goals and providing 4 assists. BeIN Sports noted, "At an age when many players have retired, he is still demonstrating top-tier scoring ability."

Another factor is that the World Cup in four years will be held in his own region, which is expected to boost Ronaldo's determination to compete in the 2030 World Cup. The next World Cup will be jointly hosted by Portugal, Spain, and Morocco. Additionally, his dream of roaming the World Cup alongside his eldest son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. (16, Al-Nassr), cannot be overlooked. BeIN Sports emphasized, "The 2030 World Cup could provide Ronaldo with an environment to create a perfect farewell stage before his fellow countrymen. Furthermore, his personal goal of playing alongside his son could become one of the strongest motivations for extending his career."

If Ronaldo actually competes in the 2030 FIFA World Cup, he could also challenge the record for the oldest player to ever appear in a World Cup. The current record is held by Egypt's Essam El-Hadary, who was 45 years and 161 days old during the 2018 Russia World Cup. If he fails to qualify for this North American World Cup, the motivation to make one final attempt at winning the World Cup, which he has yet to achieve, could further drive him.

BeIN Sports added, "The final puzzle missing from Ronaldo's legendary career is a World Cup title." They continued, "Of course, Ronaldo's plan to compete in the 2030 World Cup has not yet been officially confirmed. However, the mere fact that this possibility is being discussed demonstrates the kind of person he is. A stadium where his name is chanted during a World Cup held in his home country, and a farewell before his national fans, could become a scenario straight out of a movie."

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*This content was translated by AI.