Cristiano Ronaldo opened up a bit more on his retirement.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal football legend, candidly spoke about his retirement after scoring a stunning goal, courtesy of a bicycle kick against Poland in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday. In the same match, Ronaldo, by scoring two goals, also increased his goal tally and became the player with the most international wins(132) in men’s football history, surpassing Sergio Ramos (131). He also increased his lead as the all-time leading scorer in international football, confirming his status as a football legend.
Ronaldo, who will turn 40 in February 2025, knows that he cannot beat Father Time and sooner or later, the reality of ageing and the demands of professional football will catch up with him.
“I just want to enjoy. Plan for the retirement… if it has to happen, in one or two years… I don’t know. I’m turning 40 soon… I really want to enjoy, as long as I feel motivated I keep going. The day I don’t feel motivated, I will retire,” Ronaldo said after the game.
However, he dismissed speculation about reaching 1,000 goals: “I don’t even think about this 1000 career goals record, to be fair. Of course, you always want to make history, but I don’t focus on that record now”.
Ronaldo has earlier hinted about his retirement, saying that the legendary footballer doesn’t have ‘much time left’. CR7 also asserted that awards and individual honours are ‘not important’ for him at this stage of his career.
“I’m just enjoying playing football now as I know I don’t have much time left on the pitch. It is not important to me now to be the best player or to win awards. What is important to me now is to enjoy and help my team,” the Portuguese icon had said after a game for Al Nassr last month.
