Ronaldo Considered Retiring from Portugal Duty After World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he contemplated retiring from international football following the World Cup but affirmed his commitment to continue representing Portugal. The 41-year-old forward was included in the squad for new manager Jorge Jesus's upcoming Nations League matches, despite earlier uncertainty about his future with the national team after their World Cup exit.

Ronaldo confirmed his decision to continue playing for Portugal during a press conference ahead of their match against Wales. "Yes, I'm always thinking about my decisions, I think about everything. You see me here, so I decided to continue," Ronaldo stated. He added that he believes he can still contribute significantly to the team's success, not only through scoring but also through his presence off the field.

"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," Ronaldo said. "There is a new young generation, but for me the basic point is to be able on the pitch to score the goals and to help the team win games."

He emphasized that he would step away from the national team if he felt he was no longer making a positive impact. "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 commented.

Despite acknowledging criticism from some media outlets, Ronaldo stated his motivation comes from those who wish to see him continue playing. "I 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," he said.

The forward, who has scored 146 goals in 233 appearances for Portugal, also addressed his pursuit of 1,000 career goals. While it is a target, he described it as a goal he is not obsessed with achieving. "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," Ronaldo said. "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."

Manager Jorge Jesus confirmed Ronaldo would start in the match against Wales, referring to the veteran forward as a "symbol of Portugal."