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LISBON: Cristiano Ronaldo has given his clearest indication yet that the end of his extraordinary football career could be approaching, saying the upcoming season may be his final one as a professional. The 41-year-old Portugal captain, however, appears determined to make his final chapter memorable. Ronaldo is chasing the extraordinary milestone of 1,000 goals and wants to leave the sport with a legacy that reflects more than two decades at the highest level. “This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo told Vogue in an interview published on Sunday. Ronaldo made his senior debut for Sporting CP in 2002 and has since built one of the most decorated careers in football history. He has played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus before continuing his career with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has also become one of international football’s most prolific scorers with Portugal. Ronaldo currently has 976 goals for club and country, leaving him just 24 goals short of the unprecedented 1,000-goal mark. Reaching that figure before retirement would add another remarkable achievement to a career already filled with records. Yet one major prize remains missing from his collection: the FIFA World Cup. Portugal’s failure to win the 2026 tournament means Ronaldo will likely finish his international career without lifting football’s biggest trophy. Despite his latest comments, Ronaldo has not announced a specific retirement date, leaving open the possibility that he could continue beyond the coming season. The veteran forward has also begun thinking about life away from football. He said he has plenty of interests that could keep him occupied once he finally steps away from the game. Ronaldo mentioned travelling more, playing padel and enjoying the rewards of a career built on years of discipline and sacrifice. For now, though, his focus remains on football — and perhaps the most eye-catching target of all: becoming the first player to reach 1,000 career goals.

Shakib Al Hasan delivered an outstanding all-round performance to guide Jaffna Kings to a 21-run victory over Kandy Royals in the 18th match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Defending a formidable target of 222, Jaffna Kings dismissed Kandy Royals for 200 on the final delivery of the innings to secure an important win. The Royals made a flying start to their chase, with openers Pawan Sandesh and Lahiru Igalagamage putting immediate pressure on the bowling attack. The pair raced to a 40-run partnership within the first three overs, setting the tone for an aggressive pursuit of the target. Sandesh played an entertaining knock of 48, while Igalagamage contributed 15 before the opening stand was broken. Kandy Royals maintained a healthy scoring rate during the first half of the innings, keeping themselves in contention. However, the momentum shifted dramatically once the spin duo of Shakib Al Hasan and Dunith Wellalage came into the attack. The experienced bowlers tightened the scoring and struck at crucial intervals, reducing the Royals to 112-4 and putting Jaffna firmly back in control. Captain Wanindu Hasaranga attempted to revive the chase with a quickfire 24 off just 12 deliveries, smashing three sixes in an attacking cameo. His aggressive innings briefly raised hopes of a late comeback, but Shakib dismissed the Royals skipper in the 18th over, effectively ending the contest. Shakib and Wellalage claimed three wickets each to lead the bowling effort, while Dilshan Madushanka and Zahoor Khan chipped in with two wickets apiece to complete the victory. Earlier, Jaffna Kings produced an explosive batting display after being asked to bat first, finishing with an imposing total of 221-6 in their allotted 20 overs. Openers Kamil Mishara and Avishka Fernando laid the perfect platform with a blistering 95-run partnership inside the opening seven overs. Mishara narrowly missed out on a half-century, scoring 49 with the help of five sixes and two boundaries. Fernando added 36 from 22 balls, striking three fours and a six before leaving the field as a substitute. Although the Royals managed to regain some control through a series of quick wickets, reducing Jaffna to 139-5 in the 15th over, the innings received a powerful finish from Shakib Al Hasan and Chamindu Wickramasinghe. The pair added 59 runs in just 23 deliveries, lifting the Kings beyond the 220-run mark. Wickramasinghe played a breathtaking innings of 43 from only 15 balls, hammering four sixes and three boundaries. Shakib remained composed at the other end, contributing 22 runs from 16 deliveries, including one six and one four. For Kandy Royals, Moeen Ali and Wanindu Hasaranga were the standout bowlers, taking two wickets each. Pakistan left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, however, endured a difficult outing, finishing wicketless after conceding 43 runs in his three overs. The comprehensive victory strengthened Jaffna Kings’ campaign, with Shakib Al Hasan making a decisive impact with both bat and ball in a memorable all-round performance.

Former Australia head coach Justin Langer has dismissed speculation linking him with England’s vacant Test coaching position, saying he has not been contacted by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Langer’s name has been widely mentioned as one of the possible candidates after England began searching for a new Test coach following Brendon McCullum’s exit from the role. Despite the growing rumours, the former Australian opener made it clear that no discussions have taken place. Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Langer addressed the reports and denied that the ECB had approached him about the position. “I haven’t heard from anyone,” Langer said. “A lot of what you read is simply speculation and rumours.” Although he ruled out any current talks with England, Langer admitted that the position is among the most sought-after coaching jobs in international cricket. He believes any experienced coach would naturally be interested in considering such an opportunity if it became available. According to Langer, there are only a handful of coaching positions that stand above the rest in world cricket. He identified the head coaching roles of Australia, India and England as the biggest jobs in the game, while stressing that discussions about his future remain entirely hypothetical. The 54-year-old also described coaching as a professional career in which individuals regularly assess opportunities that may arise. However, he emphasized that there has been no contact regarding England’s vacancy. England are currently looking for a new Test coach after deciding to return to a split-coaching structure. Under the revised setup, Brendon McCullum will continue overseeing England’s white-ball teams, while a separate coach will take charge of the Test side. Several prominent names have reportedly been linked with the position. Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is believed to be among the leading contenders, while former England spinner Richard Dawson, ex-England batter Jonathan Trott and Australian coach Tom Moody have also been mentioned as possible candidates. Former England opener Marcus Trescothick has reportedly emerged as an option for an interim appointment ahead of England’s upcoming Test series against Pakistan, which is scheduled to begin on August 19. Meanwhile, former England head coach Andy Flower has already ruled himself out of contention. Flower recently stated that he remains fully committed to his coaching responsibilities with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and London Spirit, making it unlikely that he will return to the England setup. Langer also shared his thoughts on the qualities required for whoever eventually takes over England’s Test team. He believes the successful candidate will need to work closely with McCullum under the new coaching structure while maintaining a clear vision and strong leadership. He added that building an effective support staff and creating a unified direction for the team will be essential for long-term success. While Langer said he has no idea who will ultimately be appointed, he believes the next England Test coach will face an important challenge in guiding one of cricket’s leading sides through a new era.