But it’s not that far yet. After the European Football Championship in Germany, “it never occurred to me that my cycle was over. On the contrary: It motivated me even more to keep going,” said Ronaldo.
Plattform X
The SZ editorial team has enriched this article with content from X Corp.
To protect your data, it was not loaded without your consent.
Load content now
I agree to be shown content from X Corp. Personal data will be transmitted to the operator of the portal for usage analysis. You can find more information and an option to revoke your consent atsz.de/datenschutz.
With 130 goals in 212 international matches, the five-time World Footballer of the Year is his country’s record player and record goalscorer. However, he was heavily criticized at the European Championships because, even at the age of 39, he still played as captain and regular player without making any noticeable contribution to the team in sporting terms.
Ronaldo leaves career end open
“What I feel at the moment – and the coach’s words also show this – is that I will continue to be an asset to the team and will be the first to take command,” said Ronaldo. “Until the end of my career, I will always think that I will be a starter.”
However, he did not say how long he would continue to play for Portugal’s national team and his Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. “I don’t think long-term. I always think short-term,” said Ronaldo.
