Cristiano Ronaldo Says His Retirement From Soccer May Happen “Soon”

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Is Cristiano Ronaldo getting ready to hang up his cleats for good?

The soccer star confessed he’s been thinking about retiring, and he even has a timeframe in mind for when he might stop playing.

I’m feeling good and getting ready for what’s next,” I shared with Piers Morgan in a recent interview. I’m 40, and while I don’t have a definite timeline, I’m definitely working to be fully prepared for my next chapter.

Leaving professional basketball—where he’s considered one of the all-time greats—won’t be a simple transition, even for someone accustomed to success like him.

“Will [it] be tough? Of course,” he continued. “Will [it] be difficult? Yes. Probably I will cry.”

Cristiano admits retiring from soccer will be tough emotionally, but he’s looking forward to staying busy with other projects and activities.

He shared that he has other interests he wants to pursue and is looking forward to having more time for himself and his family, especially to spend with his children.

Cristiano Ronaldo, a father of six children – including 15-year-old Cristiano Jr. from a previous relationship, 8-year-old twins Eva Maria and Mateo, Alana, 7, Bella, 3, and the late Ángel with his fiancée Georgina Rodríguez – has been prioritizing family life lately. After more than eight years together, he proposed to Georgina this summer.

Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t hold back when he proposed, giving his future wife a stunning diamond ring that she clearly accepted with delight.

Georgina, 31, confirmed the news on Instagram in August, writing, ‘In this life and all my future lives.’

Cristiano Ronaldo is also dedicated to supporting his son, Cristiano Jr., who is now building his own soccer career. He’s said he’ll always be proud and supportive of his son, no matter what profession he chooses.

In a 2022 episode of his partner Georgina’s Netflix series, Cristiano stated he would never push his son, Cristianito, towards any particular path. He emphasized that his greatest wish is for his son, and all his children, to be happy and pursue their own dreams, and that he will always be there to support them in any way they need.

To see more sports stars whose kids have followed in their footsteps, keep reading.

Many people consider him the best basketball player ever, so it’s no surprise that his sons, Jeffrey Jordan and Marcus Jordan, wanted to become players too. After playing in high school, Jeffrey attended the University of Illinois and the University of Central Florida, hoping to make a name for himself and step out from under his famous father’s shadow.

In 2005, Jeffrey told The Washington Post that he didn’t consider himself among the best players in his state, but he was determined to prove he deserved to compete and wasn’t just relying on reputation.

While studying at UCF, Marcus also played basketball, and he says his father was instrumental in helping him find his direction in life.

He shared advice whenever I needed it, but mostly he emphasized the importance of staying focused and working hard daily, believing that effort would eventually lead to success, he told The Gainesville Sun in 2011.

I’ve been following Bronny James – originally known as LeBron James Jr., born October 6th, 2004 – for a while now. I watched him shine playing high school basketball for Sierra Canyon in the San Fernando Valley, and I’m really excited to see what he does now that he’s moved on to play for the University of Southern California!

LeBron’s busy NBA schedule has often made it difficult for him to attend all of his son Bronny’s games, but he’s always made a real effort to be there. He even went to extraordinary lengths once, chartering a private plane on a day off just to watch Bronny’s Sierra Canyon team play against his former high school, St. Vincent-St. Mary, in Akron, Ohio.

LeBron said it felt incredibly special and almost unbelievable to watch his son play, especially since it was against his former school.

In June 2024, Bronny James was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, creating an unprecedented moment: he and his father, LeBron James, will be the first father-son pair to play in the NBA simultaneously.

LeBron James’s son, Bryce James, began his college basketball career at the University of Arizona in 2025.

 

And rounding out the incredible Sierra Canyon team? Zaire Wade, LeBron James’ son, who’s quickly becoming a star in his own right. It’s amazing to see these young athletes follow in their parents’ footsteps – and build their own legacies!

As a big fan, it’s been amazing to watch our team get so much recognition! Zaire, who joined us in December 2019, told Yahoo! Sports that it’s been wild – cameras following us everywhere. He said he’s used to attention, but this is something completely different, a whole new level of excitement and visibility.

In April 2020, Zaire announced on Instagram that he was transferring to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, Florida, because he wasn’t getting enough playing time.

Zaire was selected 10th overall in the 2021 NBA G League draft by the Salt Lake City Stars. He later played for the Cape Town Tigers in the Basketball Africa League and, in April 2024, signed with a team in the ASEAN Basketball League.

 

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always fascinated by families with incredible talent! I recently learned about Cha’iel Johnson, the daughter of a famous retired football player, and let me tell you, she’s a rising star in her own right. This young athlete was already making waves back in 2017 when, at just 12 years old, she won the girls’ 800-meter run at the AAU Junior Olympics. It looks like she might just surpass her dad’s achievements one day!

She began her athletic career at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida and later competed for the University of Kentucky.

 

One of the NBA legend’s sons, standing 6-foot-10, played basketball at UCLA. His college career was cut short when he needed heart surgery due to a medical condition.

He sat out the 2018-19 season after leaving his first school and then transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU). LSU famously honors its alumni, including Shaq, with a 900-pound bronze statue outside the basketball practice facility.

After finishing his college basketball career at LSU in 2022, the player joined the NBA G League Ignite, a team designed to develop young basketball talent.

 

Shaquille O’Neal’s daughter, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall, decided to attend Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2020 to play basketball alongside her brother, Shareef O’Neal.

Making the transition from high school to college is a huge decision, and it was definitely tough for me,” she said. “I’m a little unsure of what the future holds, but I’m ready to embrace the challenge. I’m really excited to announce that I’ve committed to playing sports at LSU with my brother, Shareef O’Neal. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to spend the next four years as a Tiger!

She joined the basketball team at Texas Southern University for the 2021-2022 season.

 

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always fascinated by the next generation of talent! I recently learned that the eldest daughter of a two-time NBA All-Star actually played basketball with Izela Arenas – Gilbert Arenas’ daughter – when they were both students at Sierra Canyon. It’s incredible to see these legacies continuing on the court!

In a December 2020 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Randolph described his time playing for Michigan State under coach Tom Izzo. He said Izzo was a tough, demanding coach who pushed his male players hard. Randolph contrasted this with how Izzo interacted with female players, saying they were able to get him to be more understanding and patient. He explained that Izzo had a soft spot for his female players and was more supportive of their efforts.

MacKenly joked that she had won against her father in one-on-one matchups three times, adding that he ‘doesn’t play any defense.’

I’ve been following Terique’s journey for a while now, and it’s really inspiring! He’s a tall guy – 6’3″ – and the son of an NFL Hall of Famer, but he actually started out as a basketball player. He didn’t switch to football until he was a teenager. He began his college football career at Contra Costa Community College and then transferred to Florida Atlantic University in 2019, earning a spot as a walk-on. It’s amazing to see his dedication and how far he’s come!

After his college football career, Terique signed with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad.

A standout player from Sierra Canyon High School, he was a four-year starter and led his team to two state championships. He then played college basketball at Vanderbilt University before joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022 with a two-way contract.

In 2024, Scotty Jr. signed a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies that allowed him to play for both the Grizzlies and their G-League affiliate, after a short time playing for the South Bay Lakers.

Michael Jordan, the legendary Chicago Bulls player and five-time NBA champion, is also a father.

Dennis Rodman Jr., also known as DJ, was a high school athlete at Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, California, playing both basketball and football. He initially played college basketball at Washington State before transferring to the University of Southern California in 2023.

According to his high school coach, Ryan Schachter, he wasn’t getting enough recognition in Southern California, as noted in the Orange County Register after a 2017 game.

After his college career, DJ joined Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League in 2024.

While Dennis Rodman’s son followed in his footsteps by playing basketball, his daughter, Trinity Rodman, chose a different sport: soccer. After her first college season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, she turned professional in 2021, joining the Washington Spirit. In 2022, she also made the United States Women’s National Soccer Team.

In 2024, Trinity won Olympic gold as part of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

 

It’s not surprising that Tiger Woods’ son is a talented golfer. Charlie Woods first appeared on television playing golf with his dad at the 2020 PNC Championship when he was just 11 years old.

When asked about practicing his golf swing before playing with his son, the 15-time major champion said he hadn’t worked on it at all. He explained that he wasn’t focused on his own game, but rather on making sure his son, Charlie, had a great and memorable experience.

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2025-11-04 21:48