By Abigail David
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has marked the end of an era for several of football’s biggest names, with veteran stars including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Riyad Mahrez, Guillermo Ochoa and Manuel Neuer exiting the tournament in what is expected to be their final World Cup appearances.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo bowed out after his side’s 1-0 Round of 16 defeat to Spain. The 41-year-old had confirmed before the tournament that the 2026 edition would be his last World Cup. He ends his World Cup career with 27 appearances and 11 goals across six tournaments, becoming the first player to score in six different editions of the competition.
Brazil forward Neymar also appeared to bring the curtain down on his World Cup journey following Brazil’s 2-1 defeat to Norway. After the match, the country’s all-time leading scorer said his international career was over, ending a remarkable spell with 80 goals for the Seleção.
Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez announced his retirement from international football after his team’s 2-0 defeat to Switzerland. The 35-year-old leaves with 119 appearances, 40 goals and a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title.
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa also signalled the end of his international career after Mexico’s Round of 16 exit against England. The 40-year-old received an emotional farewell from supporters and said he was proud of his achievements with the national team.
Germany’s Manuel Neuer, who returned from international retirement for the tournament, saw his comeback end after Germany’s penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay. The veteran goalkeeper said he had no regrets about returning to support the younger members of the squad.
Meanwhile, the international futures of other veteran stars remain uncertain. Argentina captain Lionel Messi has not confirmed whether the ongoing tournament will be his last World Cup, while Croatia midfielder Luka Modrić is yet to announce his plans.
With the quarter-finals still underway, more high-profile players could bring their World Cup careers to a close before the tournament concludes.
