Cristiano Ronaldo weighed ending his Portugal career after the World Cup and acknowledged Wednesday some critics at home want him out of the team.
The 41-year-old Ronaldo was confirmed by coach Jorge Jesus as a starter for this 234th Portugal game — on Thursday against Wales in the Nations League.
Asked at a pre-game news conference if he thought of stopping his international career in July, after Portugal’s round-of-16 loss to Spain, Ronaldo said: “Yes, I did. Of course, I’m always thinking on my decisions, my future, the present also.”
“I had a conversation with our president, with our coach,” he said of Jesus, whose previous job was leading Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr to the Saudi league title in May. “I still believe that I’m able to help the national team to reach what they want, and will finish when I feel like I’m not doing anything here.”
Ronaldo, who captained Portugal to the previous Nations League title in 2025, is closing in on 1,000 career goals.
“One thousand goals, yes, and the national team. Winning the Nations League, the competition starts tomorrow,” Ronaldo said. “This is a new young generation,” he said. “But for me the basic point is to be able on the pitch to score the goals and to help the team win games.”
The superstar player is not universally still admired in his home country.
“I feel the Portuguese fans like me, but I do understand that some TV channels want to criticize me,” he said. “They are dying for me not to come to the national team anymore, but I can still move away from it.
“Anyway, I am used to it. For over 20 years I have been doing this, but my memories are with people who love me. I know why young kids love Cristiano, because they see me as an example, and I will continue to do that. Even when I am retired … in 10 years,” Ronaldo said, smiling.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
