Cristiano Ronaldo Considered Retiring From Portugal Duty After World Cup
The 41-year-old forward confirmed he contemplated stepping away from international football but stressed his continued commitment to the national team.
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he considered retiring from international duty following Portugal's World Cup campaign but stated he remains available to represent his country.
Ronaldo, 41, had been non-committal about his future with the national team after their exit from the tournament. Despite speculation about his retirement from international football, he was included in new manager Jorge Jesus's first 25-man squad for upcoming Nations League matches against Wales, Denmark, and Norway.
Speaking ahead of the match against Wales, Ronaldo acknowledged that he had contemplated ending his international career. "Yes, I'm always thinking about my decisions, I think about everything. You see me here, so I decided to continue," Ronaldo said at a press conference. "I still believe that I'm able to help the national team to reach what they want. I think I can give the national team my support, not only through the goals, but also outside of football."
He added that while a new generation of players is emerging, his primary focus remains on performing on the pitch. "Whenever they say they don't want me in the national team, I will be the first one to go. When I think I am not adding anything to the team, or that I create an atmosphere, I will be the first to go. I will take my suitcase and leave," Ronaldo stated.
"The Portuguese count on me, that's why I'm still here, just look at the numbers, I'm sure you can make some calculations, I'm still doing well. The day they don't count on me, no problem, I will leave. I will always be the No 1 fan of this federation."
Ronaldo indicated he is focused on the present moment and did not commit to a specific timeline for his potential departure, whether it be after the Nations League finals or the 2028 European Championships.
He also addressed criticism, stating, "I cannot be 100 per cent honest, sometimes I have to be politically correct. I do understand that some TV channels like to criticise me, they've tried to kill me – with a shotgun – but I can still move away from it. I am used to it, I have been doing this for more than 20 years, I'm quite used to it. What I can control, I will. What I can't, I won't."
The Al-Nassr forward, who has scored 146 goals in 233 appearances for Portugal, also discussed his pursuit of 1,000 career goals. Ronaldo is currently 21 goals short of the milestone and described it as a target he is aiming for but not one he is obsessed with.
"It would be the cherry on the top of the cake to score my 1,000th goal with the national team. It would be the culmination of a beautiful story. I said I wanted to reach that target and I will reach that target. But I don't have an obsession. If you are obsessed with something, you won't get it."
New manager Jorge Jesus confirmed that Ronaldo would start against Wales, describing the veteran player as "a symbol of Portugal."