The 41-year-old forward made his current goals clear, left open the possibility that this could be his last season, and responded to those who question his continuation
The start of Jorge Jesus's cycle in Portugal finds Cristiano Ronaldo still facing challenges ahead. At 41 years old, the forward has been called up again for a new edition of the Nations League and, far from being satisfied with all he has achieved, made it clear that he is still pursuing two concrete goals: to reach 1000 goals as a professional and to win a title with the national team again.
In the pre-match press conference before the game against Wales, the attacker was asked what he would choose between reaching that historic figure or lifting the Nations again. Without hesitation, he replied: "Both. The thousand goals and the National Team. Trying to win this Nations League. It’s a new era". Currently, the Bicho has 979 goals and is 21 away from reaching the mark, while with the Portuguese team he will seek to celebrate again in a tournament he already won in 2019 and 2025.
Cristiano Ronaldo wants to reach 1000 goals and win his third Nations League
For the forward, maintaining those objectives also means demonstrating that he can still be important within the team. In that sense, he explained that his call-up is not solely due to his career and emphasized: "I’m not here because of my resume, but because of what I do at my club".
He also clarified that he is willing to accept the role that Jorge Jesus determines in each match. "I’m available for whatever the coach needs, whether it’s to play, come on as a substitute, or not play", he stated.
His future with Portugal
Beyond his sporting objectives, one of the big questions is how much longer he will continue representing the national team. After the departure of Roberto Martínez and the arrival of Jorge Jesus, Ronaldo avoided putting a definitive date on the end of his international career. "I only think about the present. I know many people want me to leave now, but my motivation comes from the people who want to keep seeing me", he declared.
The forward also acknowledged that this season could be his last, although he preferred not to make a premature decision. "I don’t know, I would like to know the answer, but I don’t know. I learned to live in the moment in my early thirties, so I don’t know, but it’s very possible that this is the last year. I will let you know when it’s my last match", he affirmed.
Cristiano Ronaldo only focuses on the present
His stance is related to a condition he considers decisive for continuing: feeling capable of contributing on the field. "When I feel that I’m not doing anything, I will pack my bags", he expressed.
The response to criticism
In another part of the conference, CR7 was also asked about the questions he receives from some sectors of the press and fans regarding his level. The forward responded firmly and assured that such opinions do not affect his relationship with Portugal.
"Some media attack me and try to kill me, but they have no chance, only with a shotgun. And even then, I barely escape. But I’m used to it. At the Estádio do Dragão (in Porto) I understood it because of the rivalry... At the Luz (in Benfica), not so much, because apparently we can’t play there, or at least that’s what I read... But the fact that half a dozen people don’t like me doesn’t affect me", he stated.
