Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese footballer, has indicated that he has no immediate plans to retire from international football. The 39-year-old holds the record for the most caps and goals in men's international football history, with 130 goals in 212 appearances.
Ronaldo is part of Portugal's squad for the Nations League matches against Croatia and Scotland. This follows a challenging Euro 2024 campaign where he failed to score, leading to criticism that he may have hindered the team's performance.
Currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo commented on his future, stating, "When the time comes, I'll move on. It won't be a difficult decision to make. If I feel like I'm no longer contributing anything, I'll be the first to leave."
Despite post-Euro 2024 criticisms, Ronaldo has never considered leaving the national team. He, along with team-mate Pepe, who has since retired, was one of the oldest players at the tournament. Following Portugal's quarter-final exit to France on penalties, former Portugal international Jose Fonte suggested it might be time for the veterans to make way for younger players.
Pepe has retired, and Ronaldo acknowledged that the defender "left through the front door." Ronaldo, however, has chosen to continue his international career. Reflecting on the high expectations of the national team, Ronaldo said, "People's expectations of the national team were too high."
Looking ahead, Ronaldo has mentioned, "I don't know if I will retire soon, in two or three years, but probably I will retire here at Al-Nassr." He added that when he eventually steps away from the national team, he will make a spontaneous yet well-considered decision without prior announcement.
