India, July 6 -- Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday confirmed this will be his last World Cup, but hopes the Round of 16 clash against Spain on Monday in Arlington, Texas, is not his final appearance yet.

At 41, Ronaldo remains only the second player, alongside Lionel Messi, to appear in six World Cup editions - 2006, 2020, 2014, 2018, 2022 and now 2026, and remains the only player in history to have scored at least one goal in each six consecutive World Cups.

Despite criticism of his sheer belief that, even at this age, he remains a lethal force as a Portugal forward, there have been murmurs that the Real Madrid and Manchester United legend would be adamant about even featuring at 45 in the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Portugal,...