Cristiano Ronaldo will bring to an end his storied career with Portugal after the World Cup, according to his sister.

Katia Aveiro claimed Portugal fans can ‘say goodbye’ to the 41-year-old star and that the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico would be his ‘last dance’ with the national team.

The news comes just hours before Ronaldo’s side take on Croatia in Toronto for a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.

‘From the information I have, they can say goodbye,’ she told Sport TV outside the Toronto Stadium.

‘Not today, but I believe this is the farewell. I’m talking about the national team. From a reliable source, it’s the “last dance”, the World Cup.’ 

Ronaldo has earned his 232nd international cap after being named in the starting XI to face Croatia. He is the all-time men’s international goalscorer with 145 for his country. 

The claim was made by his sister Katia Aveiro, who was speaking before Portugal vs Croatia

His impending exit from the Portuguese national team will not come as a surprise. Ronaldo will be 43 by the time of the Euros in 2028 and 45 when his nation co-hosts the next World Cup with Spain and Morocco.

The Al-Nassr star has endured a mixed tournament in north America, scoring twice against Uzbekistan after a disappointing performance in a 1-1 draw with DR Congo in Portugal’s opening match.

The laboured display against the African side sparked claims of a ‘civil war’ in the Portugal dressing room.

It followed accusations aimed at Ronaldo’s team-mates from his zealous fanbase – including from Aveiro – alleging a plot to edge the ageing forward out of the game.  

Aveiro liked an Instagram post attacking Bruno Fernandes after the DR Congo draw, which sparked claims of tension within the Portugal camp.

But Ronaldo responded with two goals against Uzbekistan to become the first player to score at six World Cups. He then declared ‘I’m back’ before abruptly leaving a post-match interview after being asked a question about Lionel Messi. 

‘Just so you don’t forget, just so you don’t forget,’ he said of his message to the cameras. 

‘I knew it. God helps those who work hard. It was a difficult, dark week, it felt like I was already retired from football, but I held on as I always do because I believe more in hard work than in football. It was difficult, I have to confess, but we’re back.

Ronaldo opened his account by scoring twice against Uzbekistan, making him the first man to score in six World Cups

‘Very happy, but for me the most important thing is the work the team did, the confidence we had,’ he said about his historic moment. 

‘We took a lot of hits during the week, we knew that would happen. The team worked very well, we improved a lot. There are evils that come for good, as they say. 

‘Speaking for myself, it’s always nice to break records, but my goal is to help the national team achieve its objectives. In this part, it was to get through the qualifying round, with four points I think we’ve already done it.’ 

Aveiro again addressed the criticism her brother has faced during the tournament, suggesting his detractors lack intelligence.

‘For intelligent people, those who like football have to like Ronaldo,’ she said. ‘They’re the ones who lose out. 

‘He’s been tearing it up for 20-odd years.’

Ronaldo’s first goal for his country came 20 years ago in Germany, when he scored against Iran in Frankfurt.

Aveiro’s comments come after she also sparked claims of tension within the Portugal camp

Advertisement

He added another in 2010 against North Korea, and a third against Ghana in Brazil four years later. Four more followed in Russia in 2018 – a hat-trick against Spain in the opening game and one more against Morocco.

He then became the first player to score in five editions of the tournament when he scored the only goal of the game against Ghana at Qatar 2022 – a record since matched by his great rival Lionel Messi at this tournament.

But Ronaldo is now out on his own again with goals in six tournaments – the perfect riposte to those who felt he was a negative influence on the team after failing to register a shot on target in the opener against DR Congo.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward is also making history against Croatia as the first player aged 41 to feature in a World Cup knockout match. 

How much is David Beckham set to pocket from his World Cup brand deals? Take on our quiz in our newsletter HERE. 

Now, weeks after Iran allowed the partial reopening of the strait – under a ceasefire agreement with the US that is mostly holding – the sea is calm once more and fishermen are returning.

One of them, Abdol Rahman, took the BBC through the strait for a close-up view of how the war has affected life in and around Bandar Abbas.

As we sailed through the strait, two container ships seized by the IRGC in April, at the height of the conflict, came into view.

At the time, the IRGC said the vessels had endangered maritime security “by operating without the necessary permits and tampering with navigation systems”.

Despite the ceasefire, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, which were flagged to Panama and Liberia respectively, have not been released.

Dozens of other cargo ships could be seen offshore, waiting for permission from the Iranian authorities to pass through the strait.

As we approached Hormuz Island, 8km (five miles) off the coast of Bandar Abbas, our guide Rahman pointed out an old fortress overlooking the sea.

Its weathered red walls are a reminder that control of the strait has been fought over for centuries. Built in the early 16th Century, it was central to the Portuguese Empire’s control of this vital waterway – until 1622 when Portugal was driven out by Shah Abbas I of Persia, after whom Bandar Abbas is named.

For much of an international career that began a decade ago at the age of 19, Oyarzabal has not enjoyed much of the limelight.

He missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee.

But four years later – and before a World Cup debut – he was in the form of his life with 12 goals in 12 international appearances.

The double against Austria extended that run to 17 in his last 16 starts, with four goals at this tournament.

“His last two seasons, since he recovered, are the best of his career,” added Balague.

“Four goals in the World Cup – our most decisive player, no doubt.”

Spain memorably played without a recognised striker at Euro 2012, but Oyarzabal is now very much the focal point of their attacks with two excellent finishes against Austria.

“Sometimes people are in doubt about Spain because of the centre-forward, but Oyarzabal is doing the job,” former Spain defender Cesar Azpilicueta told BBC One.

“A few years ago, Oyarzabal was playing a bit more on the right wing and he has transitioned more into the middle.”

Since the start of last year, the only European player with more international goals than Oyarzabal is Norway striker Erling Haaland with 22.

He also became the first Spanish player to score twice in a World Cup knockout match since Emilio Butragueno against Denmark in the last 16 of the 1986 tournament.

The statistics are impressive, but it is not to say he is overshadowed by Lamine Yamal, with the 18-year-old playing a key role in Oyarzabal being able to shine.

The Barcelona forward’s excellent ball control and dribbling skills clearly unsettles defences and pulled the Austrian defenders towards him to create more space for Oyarzabal.

“When you have someone in your team like Lamine Yamal who attracts so much attention, you know you will get more space,” said former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger.

“Oyarzabal uses that space, gets the ball, and scores goals.”

By LEWIS BROWNING, SPORTS REPORTER

Updated: 00:06 BST, 3 July 2026

The York band will release their new album, called Shed Seven, on January 8, 2027.

It will be their first release since 2024’s A Matter of Time and Liquid Gold both charted at number one – meaning the band joined a unique group of artists that have topped the album charts twice within the same year.

Sheds’ frontman Rick Witter said the band was “excited” to announce their eponymously titled new album, to be released via Cooking Vinyl.

Read next:

The band have also released the new single, Stand Together, which Rick described as a “call to arms and a rallying cry for some kind of unity in the world we live in today”.

“We have taken great care in making this album what we believe to be our best yet, and we hope these songs are taken to people’s hearts,” he said.

“The brand new comeback single ‘Stand Together’ shows a statement of intent.”

The announcement of the new album comes as the Sheds prepare to play a sold-out acoustic show from London’s iconic 100 club on Thursday night (July 2).

At the end of the year, the band will head out for their Shedcember UK tour which includes two dates at the O2 Academy in Leeds on December 12 and 13.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our
articles.

Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local
services.

These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local
community.

It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need
as much support as possible during these challenging times.

Prosecutors say a video shows rapper Pooh Shiesty pressing for his release from fellow rapper Gucci Mane‘s record label while an armed man blocks a door during an alleged robbery at a Texas music studio in January.

A court record shows the video was submitted as evidence in federal court in Dallas, where Pooh Shiesty and eight others have been indicted on kidnapping and extortion charges. Prosecutors say the victims were robbed at gunpoint after traveling to the city to discuss Pooh Shiesty’s recording contract with Mane’s 1017 Records.

The victims have only been referred to by their initials in court documents. One, R.D., is described as the owner of 1017 Records. Mane’s legal name is Radric Delantic Davis. The song “Crash Dummy,” which Gucci Mane released this spring, includes the lyrics: “I thought it was a business meeting, but it was a set up.”

The court document was filed by prosecutors in response to a motion Pooh Shiesty filed last month proposing home confinement, arguing that the evidence against him did not warrant keeping him in custody pending trial, as was ordered by a judge in April.

But prosecutors said in their filing that the motion from Pooh Shiesty, whose legal name is Lontrell Williams Jr., should be denied and that evidence against him was “extraordinarily strong.”

Prosecutors said they have the cooperation of all five victims and witnesses in the case and cellphone location data. There is also surveillance video placing the defendants at the scene, according to prosecutors, in addition to the video of the owner of 1017 Records being forced to declare that Pooh Shiesty was “dropped” from his label.

Prosecutors said in the filing that just before that video was made, Pooh Shiesty produced a printed contractual release for the record label owner to sign. The man initially refused but signed after Pooh Shiesty allegedly pointed an AK-style pistol his head.

Prosecutors also said BIG30, whose legal name is Rodney Wright, recorded the video with his cellphone while another defendant blocked the door holding a firearm that resembled an AK-47 style rifle.

According to prosecutors, Pooh Shiesty robbed the record label owner of about $450,000 worth of items including his wedding band, a watch, a pair of earrings and cash.

Prosecutors have said that at the time of the alleged confrontation, Pooh Shiesty was on home confinement for a prior firearms conspiracy conviction out of Florida and was required to wear an electronic monitoring device.

Attorneys for Pooh Shiesty and BIG30 did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Thursday.

Gucci Mane is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of trap music alongside fellow Atlanta rappers T.I. and Jeezy. He emerged in the mid-2000s with his breakout single “Icy” and went on to build a vast catalog.

The event, which will also include children’s activities, such as balloon modelling, face painting, and sand art, will take place in front of Primark and Sports Direct between 11am and 2pm on Sunday, July 5.

And, those attending are in with a chance to win a free bus fare, with 500 Stagecoach and Arriva day passes up for grabs.

Steve Walker, Managing Director at Stagecoach North East, said: “The summer holidays are a busy time for families, and taking the bus can make getting to Teesside Park simple and affordable.”

Representatives from Arriva and Stagecoach will be on hand to offer guidance on routes and travel options to the retail park.

Free children’s travel is available on both operators’ services this summer, with up to three children aged 11 or under travelling at no cost when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.

Services to the retail park run regularly throughout the day from Hartlepool, Norton, Billingham and Middlesbrough, from 7am to 10.30pm. Stagecoach’s 36, 37, and 38, and Arriva’s X12 and 16 buses provide easy access to the centre.

Richard McGowan, Head of Commercial at Arriva North East and Yorkshire, said: “Teesside Park is a popular place for shopping, food and family days out, and good bus services give people another easy way to get there.

“Our day passes are valid for use within a year, so visitors can pick one up at the event and use it when it suits them. We’ll also have a bus on site for the children’s treasure hunt, adding another free activity for families on the day.”