Ronaldo: No National Team Retirement Anytime Soon: "I'll Leave When There's Nothing More to Do"
Ronaldo: No National Team Retirement Anytime Soon: "I'll Leave When There's Nothing More to Do"
Blog Article
'Soccer star of the century' Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr) stated that he will continue to play for the Portuguese national team for the time being and will leave 'when he feels there is nothing more to do.'
According to Reuters and AP, Ronaldo said at a press conference held in Lisbon, Portugal on the 2nd (local time), "When I feel that I have nothing more to add, I will be the first to leave. That's life."
He added, "I will leave following my conscience as I always have, because I know myself well," and "I don't know when that will be, but (when the moment of retirement comes) I will be the first to step forward and make the decision."
Instead of revealing a fixed retirement date in advance, the intention is to make the decision to hang up his football boots 'when the time comes'.
The Portuguese national team, which includes Ronaldo, will play against Croatia in the first match of Group A of the 2024-2025 UEFA Nations League at 3:45 AM on the 6th, Korean time.
"My goal is to come to the national team and win the Nations League. That's the next tournament we're preparing for," Ronaldo said. Ronaldo and Portugal won the tournament in the 2018-2019 season.
However, Ronaldo was tight-lipped about competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America.
Regarding this, Ronaldo said, "I cannot answer the question about 2026 because I am living in the present and enjoying this moment," and "We are starting a new stage called the Nations League. Now is good."
Ronaldo also revealed that he is no longer obsessed with scoring 한국을 records.
"I've scored my 899th goal, do you think I'll be looking forward to my 900th, 901st, 902nd goal? I've scored so many goals that I can't do that anymore," he said. "What drives me now is the joy of continuing to train, play and compete."
However, it seems difficult to say that Ronaldo has completely given up his 'goal-scoring desire' as in these remarks.
On the 28th of last month, Ronaldo said on his YouTube channel, "I have to score 900 goals first. Then my challenge is to reach 1,000 goals."
Ronaldo, who has scored 899 goals in his career (769 club goals and 130 international goals), will reach the 900-goal mark with just one more goal.
Ronaldo's 130 goals in A matches is the 'most goals scored in A matches ever'.
Ronaldo, who surpassed Iran's Ali Daei (retired, 108 goals) in September 2021 to set the record for most goals in an A match, has been steadily scoring goals and reached the '130-goal mark' for the first time in the match against Ireland in June.
'Rival' Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) also surpassed Daei by scoring in the Copa America 2024 held in June and July. With 109 goals in A matches, he is second all-time in this category after Ronaldo.
Ronaldo is also the all-time leader in international appearances, having played 212 games and is expected to add to that tally in the upcoming Nations League.