Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has finally opened up about his retirement plans for both club and country.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Thursday’s Nations League match against Croatia in Lisbon, the 39-year-old star made it clear that he has no immediate plans to retire from international football.
“When the time comes, I’ll move on. It won’t be a difficult decision to make,” Ronaldo stated, emphasizing that he still has much to offer Portugal.
He added, “If I feel like I’m no longer contributing, I’ll be the first to leave,” citing the example of his former teammate Pepe, who “left through the front door” after retiring from the game last August at the age of 41.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner who has been playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia for nearly two years, did not score during his record sixth European Championship appearance this year, where Portugal was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Despite facing criticism, Ronaldo said he “never considered leaving the national team” and continues to have the support of coach Roberto Martinez.
“People’s expectations of the national team were too high,” Ronaldo remarked, noting that the tough moments in a footballer’s career “help you grow.”
After Thursday’s match against Croatia, Portugal will stay in Lisbon to face Scotland on Sunday.
