Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football icon, has stated that he is not considering retirement from international football at this time. However, he acknowledged that the decision to retire “won’t be a difficult decision to make” when the time arrives.
At 39 years old, Ronaldo holds the record for the most caps and goals in men’s international football, with 130 goals in 212 appearances. He remains part of Portugal’s squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Croatia and Scotland.
Ronaldo’s performance in Euro 2024 was notably underwhelming, as he failed to score and faced criticism for his perceived negative impact on the team. Despite this, he continues to play for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, having previously represented Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Ronaldo commented, “When the time comes, I’ll move on. It won’t be a difficult decision to make. If I feel like I’m no longer contributing anything, I’ll be the first to leave.”
Despite the criticism following Euro 2024, Ronaldo mentioned that he “never considered leaving the national team.” He and teammate Pepe, both 41, were the oldest players at the tournament. Following their elimination from the Euros, former Portugal international Jose Fonte suggested that Ronaldo and Pepe might recognize that their time with the national team is ending, stating, “They’ve done so much for Portugal. Sometimes you just have to give your place to the young boys coming up.”
Pepe has since retired from international football, with Ronaldo acknowledging that Pepe “left through the front door.” Ronaldo, however, has decided to continue his international career. He remarked, “People’s expectations of the national team were too high,” reflecting on their quarter-final exit to France on penalties.
Looking ahead, Ronaldo indicated, “I don’t know if I will retire soon, in two or three years, but probably I will retire here at Al-Nassr.” He added that when he does decide to leave the national team, it will be a “very spontaneous decision” but also “a very well thought-out one.”
