Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has made it clear that he has no immediate plans to retire from international football, although he acknowledges that “it won’t be a difficult decision to make” when the time comes.
At 39, Ronaldo holds the records for the most caps and goals in men’s international football, with 130 goals in 212 appearances.
Currently, Ronaldo is part of Portugal’s squad for the Nations League matches against Croatia and Scotland.
However, he enters these matches after a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, where he failed to score, leading many critics to argue that he hindered the team’s performance.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star now plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
“When the time comes, I’ll move on,” Ronaldo said. “It won’t be a difficult decision to make. If I feel like I’m no longer contributing, I’ll be the first to step aside.”
Despite the criticism following Euro 2024, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner insists he “never considered leaving the national team.”
Ronaldo and his teammate Pepe, aged 41, were the two oldest players at Euro 2024.
Following their exit from the tournament, former Portugal international José Fonte told BBC Sport: “They probably know it’s the end of the line with the national team. They’ve done so much for Portugal, but sometimes it’s time to pass the torch to the younger generation.”
Pepe has since retired, with Ronaldo noting that the defender “left through the front door.” However, Ronaldo has chosen to continue playing.
“People’s expectations for the national team were too high,” Ronaldo added, reflecting on their quarter-final exit to France on penalties.
Last month, he commented: “I don’t know if I will retire soon, in two or three years, but I’ll probably retire here at Al-Nassr. When I decide to leave the national team, it will be a spontaneous decision, though a carefully considered one.”