Cristiano Ronaldo, the 39-year-old Portuguese football icon, has clarified that he has no immediate plans to retire from international football.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Thursday’s Nations League match against Croatia in Lisbon, Ronaldo emphasized that he still has much to offer to the national team.
“When the time comes, I’ll move on. It won’t be a difficult decision,” Ronaldo stated, underscoring that he will step down only when he feels he is no longer contributing to the team.
He mentioned his former teammate Pepe, who retired last August at the age of 41, as an example of leaving the game on a positive note.
Despite not scoring in his record sixth European Championship this year, where Portugal was eliminated in the quarter-finals, Ronaldo dismissed any thoughts of quitting the national team. He also highlighted the support he continues to receive from coach Roberto Martinez.
“People’s expectations of the national team were very high,” Ronaldo remarked, adding that the challenges faced in a footballer’s career can lead to personal growth.
Following the match against Croatia, Portugal will remain in Lisbon to play against Scotland on Sunday.
