Cristiano Ronaldo has extended his record-setting Portugal career so long he’s seeing a new generation of Spain players grow up to rule international I will feel like I’m not adding anymore, I’ll be the first to leave, the 39-year-old Ronaldo said late Monday ahead of national team soccer resuming in Europe this week. is to come to the national team and to win the Nations and Spain both play on Thursday to start a new UEFA Nations League less than two months after the European Championship final in Ronaldo has captained Portugal to win past editions of both competitions the 2019 Nations League and Euro 2016 Spain now holds both trophies sparked by an exciting wave of Yamal, the 17-year-old sensation of Euro 2024, and 20-year-old Gavi were not born when Ronaldo played in his first major tournament final, the Euro 2004 loss to of Ronaldo’s peak career years clashed with the great Spain team that won an unprecedented three straight titles at Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. In the last two of those, Spain eliminated Portugal in the knockout Spain is back on top before the 2026 World Cup, that could yet see a 41-year-old Ronaldo and Lionel Messi who would turn 39 during the tournament in North America play at a record sixth asked about his World Cup plans on Monday Nuno Mendes Jersey, Ronaldo said in translated comments, can’t give you an answer because I don’t know what will was dropped from the Portugal team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and failed to score in five games at Euro 2024. Now he is preparing to face Croatia on Thursday and add to his men’s national-team records of 212 games and 130 goals.’ll go with a clear conscience as always because I know what I am, he said, know what I do and what I will continue to do.2026 World Cup is coming fastThe Nations League opens with the next World Cup very much in qualifying groups for the 2026 World Cup are set to be drawn in Zurich in December,likely with seedings decided by FIFA world rankings updated in November after Nations League group play Cup qualifying in Europe typically starts in March but the top-tier teams who advance to the Nations League Final Four next June are not free until in the Final Four lineup must go into four-team World Cup qualifying groups, playing just six games in total from September-November 2025. Five-team qualifying groups must start in March or members have a slightly different path to the 2026 World Cup because they get 16 places in the expanded 48-team finals tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and 12 group winners qualify direct to the World Cup. The 12 runners-up enter a 16-team playoffs in March 2026. Four more playoff entries are based on Nations League 16 playoff teams are drawn into four playoff brackets. Single-game semifinals and finals decide the four World Cup giving teams a qualifying route from the Nations League into World Cups and European Championships, UEFA aims to boost its third-tier national-team event.