
<p>Cristiano Ronaldo waved off any discussion of his retirement as he plans to keep playing with Al-Nassr and Portugal through the 2026 World Cup. The Portuguese icon sees playing in the 2026 competition as a sendoff to his career. Ronaldo is one of six players to have played in five World Cups. He would, along with potentially Lionel Messi, break that record if he plays in the 2026 World Cup.</p>



<p>According to Saudi journalist <a href="https://twitter.com/alharbi_44/status/1711329478167630039" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ali Al-Harabi</a>, Ronaldo is going to sign a contract extension with Al-Nassr that runs into the 2026/27 season. Posting on X, Al-Harabi said Ronaldo wants to play in the World Cup as a player for Al-Nassr. After that, he will announce his retirement from professional soccer.</p>



<p>Ronaldo has been the star of the Saudi Pro League both on and off the pitch. He led the grand movement of players from Europe out to the Middle East. Then, on the field, Ronaldo has played in 30 games with Al-Nassr. In those games, he has 25 goals and eight assists. That performance, and his stature in the world of soccer, has been enough for him to keep his status in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/portugal-national-team-tv-schedule/">Portugal</a> squad. He will feature in the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.</p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Al-Nassr 4 - 3 Al-Ahli | 🔥 PARTIDAZO DE CR7 🔥 GOLES Y HIGHLIGHTS | Saudi Pro League" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JETuqy4tec4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<p>Portugal benefits from having Ronaldo in the squad. However, at the 2022 World Cup, the star <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/no-ronaldo-no-problem-as-portugal-thump-switzerland-6-1-20221206-WST-411481.html">lost his spot to Goncalo Ramos</a> during the group stage. He did make a substitute appearance in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/morocco-stun-portugal-to-reach-world-cup-semi-final-20221210-WST-411917.html">Portugal’s elimination against Morocco</a> in the quarterfinals. Still, there are <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/portugal-scores-nine-in-euro-2024-qualifying-20230911-WST-455518.html">young options that may develop</a> for Portugal by the time the 2026 World Cup rolls around.</p>



<h2>Ronaldo would be 41 by the 2026 World Cup</h2>



<p>If Ronaldo does play for Portugal in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026, he would set records. Ronaldo would be the oldest player from Europe to ever play in a World Cup if he does reach the tournament. Only Roger Milla would be an older outfield player. The two oldest players in World Cup history are both goalkeepers. </p>



<p>Of course, this is also a major boost for the Saudi Pro League. Despite his age, Ronaldo still has one of the biggest pulls in the world of soccer. The Saudi Pro League has tied down <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/saudi-pro-league-signs-fox-deal-to-bring-ronaldo-to-us-tv-20230809-WST-448998.html">TV rights deals with worldwide broadcasters</a>, and Ronaldo’s presence plays a key role in that.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Power Sports Images</em></p>


Ronaldo plans on staying with Al-Nassr through 2026 World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo waved off any talk of his retirement as he plans to keep playing with Al-Nassr and Portugal through the 2026 World Cup.


<p>January has now passed and Christian Pulisic is still contracted to Chelsea, but is the American’s time at Stamford Bridge realistically up?</p>



<p>The London club has been on a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/latest-chelsea-transfers-not-at-fault-for-aimless-spending-20230114-WST-415145.html">mesmeric spending spree</a> this winter, with Todd Boehly looking to secure lots of players on long-term contracts to assist with FFP regulations.</p>



<p>Whether or not this proves to be a genius strategy will only be known in time, but for the moment it has left Graham Potter’s squad bloated heading into the second half of the campaign.</p>



<p>Prior to the transfer window there were no guarantees that the American international would be a regular starter for Potter. As we sit on Feb. 3, the chances of him playing are rather slim.</p>



<h2>Christian Pulisic playing chances look bleak at Chelsea</h2>



<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/chelsea-signs-joao-felix-on-short-term-loan-deal-20230111-WST-415129.html">Joao Felix</a> has arrived on loan which takes up a spot through the center. Meanwhile Noni Madueke has joined from PSV Eindhoven to play from a wide position.</p>



<p>This is before you even take into account <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/chelsea-agree-e100m-deal-for-mykhailo-mudryk-20230114-WST-415528.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mykhailo Mudryk’s arrival</a> for over $100 million. The Ukrainian will be one of the first names on the Blues’ teamsheet.</p>



<p>What you have to remember is that for Boehly’s gamble to work, <a href="https://www.transfermarkt.us/chelsea-fc/transfers/verein/631/plus/?saison_id=2022&amp;pos=&amp;detailpos=&amp;w_s=w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">each of these players</a> have to be productive members of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a> team. They can’t sit on the bench.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chelsea have signed 1️⃣8️⃣❗️players in the last two transfer windows 😲 <a href="https://t.co/XP3O8YP8bt">pic.twitter.com/XP3O8YP8bt</a></p>— 433 (@433) <a href="https://twitter.com/433/status/1621176193394393088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>If you were to look at Chelsea’s books, they need Madueke and Mudryk to be playing well far more than they do Pulisic.</p>



<p>It’s an unfortunate reality of the situation, but the former Borussia Dortmund prodigy is unlikely to get a look-in during the second-half of the season.</p>



<p>Hakim Ziyech has played well under Potter, but even he was deemed surplus to requirements and was almost loaned to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psg-tv-schedule/">Paris Saint-Germain</a> on deadline day, only for the paperwork to be submitted incorrectly on three occasions.</p>



<p>That deal fell through, and leaves Ziyech a part of Potter’s squad, and he certainly appeared to prefer the Moroccan to the American of late.</p>



<h5>USA fans to get a sharp wake-up call ahead of 2026 World Cup</h5>



<p>One of the problems that has followed Pulisic throughout his career is that the burden of expectation has far outweighed his considerable talent.</p>



<p>Make no mistake, Pulisic is the most naturally gifted soccer player to ever come out of the United States of America. That raised expectations and hopes back home. American fans expect him to shine for the national team, but how can he do that when his domestic career is so stop-start?</p>



<p>The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/usmnt-tv-schedule/">USMNT</a> needs to prepare well for the 2026 World Cup on home soil. Pulisic is a central part of that plan.</p>



<p>However, if he isn’t playing regular soccer, U.S. fans will be in for a hugely disappointing return from the forward. He needs to be playing regular football in order to be at his peak for the tournament, that should be the culmination of his sporting career.</p>



<p>For now, he can’t get that move with an injury just before the January window opened ending his <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/08/17/christian-pulisic-man-united/">hopes of a loan</a>. His Chelsea future is bleak, with the only positive being that there are only five months until the next transfer window opens.</p>



<h5>Pulisic needs to be a star somewhere</h5>



<p>Pulisic is a confidence player. He needs to feel respected and needed. He has never truly felt that at Chelsea. A move away from Stamford Bridge in the summer is of paramount importance.</p>



<p>Pulisic must find a club where he will play every game and also be their talisman.</p>



<p>That builds confidence and will allow him to get his best level before the road to the World Cup starts.</p>



<p>If Everton manage to stay in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a>, they would be the perfect club for him to join. He’s exciting, direct and would vastly improve their squad.</p>



<p>Unfortunately for fans, the Chelsea experiment has failed and the quicker everyone moves on, the better.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Action Plus</em></p>


January has now passed and Christian Pulisic is still contracted to Chelsea, but is the American’s time at Stamford Bridge realistically up?

ALL POSTS TAGGED "2026 World Cup"

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