In the quiet hours before a stadium fills with noise and expectation, the sun might catch the glint of a familiar silhouette on the horizon, a figure whose shape has become almost symbolic in modern sport. Cristiano Ronaldo’s career has been like a lighthouse beam — constant, bright, and cutting through fogs of change in world football. Now, as he approaches the twilight of his legendary journey, the question of when that light might dim gently stirs in the minds of fans and observers alike.

At 41 years old, Ronaldo continues to defy simple definitions of age and decline. Portugal’s manager Roberto Martinez has spoken warmly and candidly about his captain’s enduring physical condition, noting that — statistically and in practice — his performance levels still allow him to contribute meaningfully on the pitch. Martinez suggested that Ronaldo could play “on and on and on,” emphasizing that the time to stop will be determined more by Ronaldo’s own sense of readiness than by any external clock.

This gentle perspective resonates with how many have watched Ronaldo’s career unfold: a story not just of records and goals, but of devotion to craft. He remains a central figure for Portugal and for his Saudi Pro League club Al‑Nassr, where he continues to find the net regularly. All the while there is a sense that he is savoring the moment — the travel, the crowds, the thrill of being part of a living game.

Yet even the most enduring lights have an eventual sunset. Ronaldo himself has signaled that the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup — set to be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — will almost certainly mark his final bow on the world’s largest stage. Speaking at public events last year, he acknowledged that he expects to retire “in one or two years,” describing that future transition as “soon” while underscoring his current passion for competing.

That World Cup, then, may serve as a poetic full stop — a final chapter written on pitches where millions will watch and where Ronaldo’s story on football’s grandest stage will be remembered for its breadth and brilliance. Whether he continues beyond that moment at club level, or chooses to step away entirely, appears to be a personal decision that rests with him, shaped by his own map of motivation and meaning.

For now, there is no sudden retirement looming like thunder on the horizon — just the steady rhythm of training, matches, and a legacy that continues to unfold in real time. Ronaldo’s playing career, as his manager gently put it, could indeed “go on and on and on” as long as his heart and body allow. But the world could also be looking at one of his final great tournaments — a finale befitting a player whose name has become inseparable from modern football’s narrative.

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Sources Yahoo Sports Goal.com AFP via Geo.tv Arise News beIN SPORTS