What Happened: Cristiano Ronaldo plans to continue representing Portugal as long as he feels he can contribute, despite recent criticism and his advancing age.
What you need to know: Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football legend, has shared his thoughts on his retirement plans for both club and country. Speaking before a Nations League match against Croatia in Lisbon, the 39-year-old stated he has no immediate plans to retire from international football.
What more: He expressed that he will step down when he feels he is no longer contributing to the team, similar to how his former teammate Pepe retired last year at 41. Despite recent criticism and not scoring in his sixth European Championship, where Portugal was eliminated in the quarter-finals, Ronaldo affirmed he never considered leaving the national team. He noted the high expectations placed on the national team and emphasized that challenging times help players grow.
Also: Ronaldo, who has been playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia for nearly two years, remains supported by Portugal’s coach, Roberto Martinez. After their game against Croatia, Portugal will play Scotland in Lisbon on Sunday.