Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has insisted that Portugal will not force Cristiano Ronaldo into international retirement as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, stating that any decision to step away from the national team will be entirely on the player's terms.

Speaking to Betfair, Shearer addressed speculation about the 40-year-old forward's future, particularly after Ronaldo recently hinted that his chapter with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr might be "over" as his contract expires at the end of June.

"Ronaldo has hinted at an exit from his current club, what is next for him? I don't know," Shearer said. "He is not as good as he was obviously. It's impossible to be at that age but he is still going somehow and still scoring goals at that level."

The former England striker emphasized Ronaldo's continued importance to the Portuguese national team, where he remains a key player in head coach Roberto Martinez's starting lineup despite his advancing age.

"He is still playing for Portugal, they won't retire him, he will have to retire himself," Shearer added. "Whether he wants to play in the Club World Cup, the World Cup next year... I don't know but it will be really interesting to see what happens with him and what his next step is."

Ronaldo's club future has become a subject of intense speculation following his comments suggesting a potential departure from Al-Nassr. Reports indicate that several clubs are already being linked with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who continues to demonstrate remarkable longevity at the highest levels of the game.

Despite no longer performing at the peak levels that defined his spells at Manchester United and Real Madrid, Ronaldo has shown no signs of considering retirement from international football, with the 2026 World Cup potentially offering a final major tournament appearance for the Portuguese captain.

As Ronaldo approaches free agency, football fans worldwide will be watching closely to see where the next chapter of his illustrious career unfolds, and whether he can extend his international career to what would be his sixth World Cup appearance in 2026.