The Portuguese star was honored at the Portugal Football Globes and reaffirmed his desire to continue competing at the elite level
"I'm certain that when I finish, I'll leave fulfilled because I gave everything I had. It's about enjoying the moment. I know I don't have many years left to play, but the few I have left, I have to enjoy them to the fullest," he added.
Cristiano Ronaldo was honored at the Portugal Football Globes gala and, true to his style, he delivered statements that reignited doubts about his future. At 40 years old, the Portuguese forward continues to defy the passage of time and fuels his legend with a goal as colossal as it is current: to reach 1,000 goals in his career.
"I have been with the National Team for 22 years, and that speaks to the passion I have for winning trophies and playing. I even say many times: if I could, I would play football only for the National Team, I wouldn't play for any other club," said the Al Nassr forward after receiving the Prestige Trophy for his career with the Portuguese squad.
Far from showing signs of retirement, the all-time top scorer in professional football reaffirmed his competitive hunger. "I still have passion for this. My family says it's time to stop and asks me why I want to score 1,000 goals if I've already scored over 900. But inside, I don't think that way. I'm still producing good things, I'm helping my club and the National Team. Why not continue?," he stated.
Nevertheless, Cristiano himself acknowledged that his perspective on his career has changed over the years: "I'll be honest: I don't see it as an obsession. If you had asked me 20 years ago, maybe I would have answered differently, eager to conquer the world, but now I don't see things that way. Age also allows us to think differently. As I said, I have a life philosophy of living day by day."
In the same vein, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner did not shy away from the excitement of the next big challenge on the horizon: the 2026 World Cup. "Our goal is to win the next two matches and be at the World Cup. The World Cup will be seen in due time. We have to think solely and exclusively about the present, but with our minds set on the future. It would be a dream. But step by step," he concluded.
At this point, nothing seems impossible for Cristiano Ronaldo, not even continuing to make history when most of his contemporaries have already hung up their boots.
