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Ronaldo is 21 goals away from reaching 1,000 goals for club and country, another major target he wants to achieve before ending his playing career.
AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed he will continue playing for Portugal after considering international retirement following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying he still believes he can help the national team.
The 41-year-old Portugal captain spoke ahead of the team’s Nations League opening match against Wales, addressing his future, his 1,000-goal ambition and criticism from sections of the media.
He said he still believes he can contribute through his goals and his influence outside the pitch. “Yes, I did. Of course, I’m always thinking about my decisions, my future, the present also. I’m a thinker; you have to think. This is why you see me here now, it means I will continue.”
“I had a conversation with our president [Pedro Proença], with our coach. I still believe that I’m able to help the national team to reach what they want,” he added.
Ronaldo also said he would leave the national team if he felt Portugal no longer wanted him or if he believed he was no longer contributing. “Whenever they say they don’t want me in the national team, I will be the first one to go. When I think I am not adding anything to the team, or that I create an atmosphere, I will be the first to go. I will take my suitcase and leave.”
What did new Portuguese coach Jesus say about Ronaldo?
Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus confirmed that Ronaldo would start against Wales in his first game in charge of the national team.
Jesus previously managed Ronaldo at Al-Nassr and described the veteran forward as an important figure for Portugal. “Cristiano is a symbol of Portugal and the national team,” Jesus said while appearing alongside Ronaldo at the Portugal federation’s campus.
What did Cristiano Ronaldo say about his critics?
Ronaldo was also asked about criticism from sections of the media and responded with a remark that drew laughter from the room.
“I cannot be 100% honest, sometimes I have to be politically correct,” he said.
He then addressed criticism from some television channels, saying he had become accustomed to it after more than two decades in professional football. “I do understand that some TV channels like to criticise me, they’ve tried to kill me – with a shotgun – but I can still move away from it. Anyway, I am used to it. I have been doing this for more than 20 years, I’m quite used to it.”
Ronaldo added: “What I can control, I will. What I can’t, I won’t.”
How close is Ronaldo to 1,000 career goals?
Ronaldo is 21 goals away from reaching 1,000 goals for club and country, another major target he wants to achieve before ending his playing career.
The Portugal captain said scoring his 1,000th goal for the national team would be particularly meaningful and described it as the culmination of a “beautiful story”.
“It would be the cherry on the top of the cake to score my 1,000th goal with the national team. It would be the culmination of a beautiful story. I said I wanted to reach that target and I will reach that target.”
However, Ronaldo said he does not want to become obsessed with reaching the milestone.
“But I don’t have an obsession. If you are obsessed with something, you won’t get it … Just enjoy. Carpe diem, enjoy the day.”
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