Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal Retirement ‘Won’t Be a Difficult Decision—But Not Yet’

Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently played at his sixth European Championship, is not yet willing to hang his boots for the national team even at 39. Ronaldo, who holds the record of the most goals scored for Portugal, has not been without some criticism in the Euro 2024 where France knocked Portugal out in the quarterfinals. However, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star has stated that he will only quit the national team if he feels that he is not able to help the team in any way.

Before the new UEFA Nations League match, Ronaldo was asked about his future with the national team during the press conference. ”When the time comes, I will leave,” he said. It will not be a very hard decision to make because if I feel that I am not contributing anything then I will be the first to quit.

The Al-Nassr striker has been an ever-present in the Portugal team for the past number of years and is the most capped player in the team's history with 212 appearances and top scorer with 130 goals. Despite being 39 years of age, Ronaldo is still an active member of the team and has been selected by the head coach of the Portugal national team, Roberto Martinez for the games against Croatia and Scotland in the UEFA Nations League.

Some of his contemporaries, like Germany’s Thomas Muller and France’s Olivier Giroud, decided to hang their boots on international football after Euro 2024, but Ronaldo is not ready to hang his boots. Despite the backlash that he received for not finding the back of the net during the tournament, there is no sign of him wanting to quit the national team for Portugal. Pepe, his fellow veteran player at the tournament and the oldest player alongside Ronaldo has since announced his retirement from international football, leaving Ronaldo as the only man standing from Portugal’s golden generation.

Recalling Portugal’s participation in Euro 2024, Ronaldo admitted that the team was under a lot of pressure. He said, “People expected a lot from the national team and there was a feeling of letdown when they were knocked out in the quarter-final. ”

Portugal is set to face Croatia and Scotland in two friendlies scheduled to be held in Lisbon and Ronaldo is not relenting. In club football, the ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid player has been in good form for Al-Nassr this season 2024/25 where he has scored four goals in four matches.

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