Cristiano Ronaldo He stressed that the European Nations Cup tournament scheduled in Germany will be “without a doubt” the last in his brilliant career.
Euro 2024 will see Ronaldo make a record sixth appearance at the European Championship.
The next tournament will be held in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland in four years’ time, when Ronaldo will be 43 years old.
“There is no doubt that this is the last Euro tournament. [for me]of course it is,” Ronaldo told Portuguese TV channel RTP:.
“But I’m not emotional about it. I’m moved by everything that football entails, the passion I feel for the game, the passion I see in the fans, having my family here, the passion of the people… It’s not about leaving football. What else can I do or win?”
Ronaldo, who made his international debut for Portugal in 2003 and won the tournament in 2016, is the men’s national team’s all-time leading scorer with 130 goals.
“The most important thing about the journey I’ve been on is the excitement I still feel to be here,” he said.
“I have spent 20 years representing and playing for the national team, bringing joy to people, to family, to my children, and that is what motivates me more than anything else.”
Ronaldo’s mental strength was tested on Monday when his 114th-minute penalty was saved by Slovenia’s goalkeeper. Jan Oblak.
Portugal won the round of 16, beating Slovenia on penalties, with the Portuguese goalkeeper shining. Diogo Costa Saved all three Slovenia attempts.
The Al-Nassr star burst into tears when the match went to penalty kicks, and his teammates had to console him.
“It’s football, and those who fail are those who try,” Ronaldo said. “I will always give my best for this shirt, whether I fail or not.”
“As you saw, I missed the penalty but I wanted to be the first to score.” [on the penalty shootout] “Because you have to take responsibility when the team has to. You can’t be afraid, I’ve never been afraid to face things head-on, sometimes I’m right and sometimes I’m not, but giving up is something you’ll never hear from me.”
Ronaldo, who is the tournament’s all-time top scorer with 14 goals, has yet to score in Germany.
“Obviously it’s frustrating when we can’t score, but that’s football,” said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“In the end the result was positive and that was the most important thing.
“I lost twice this year on penalties. [to Al Ain in a penalty shootout in the Asian Champions League quarterfinals and to Al Hilal in the King Cup of Champions final]Now I win.
“I think football has to be fair sometimes, and it was fair because I think Portugal deserved to win.”
Portugal will now face France in the quarter-finals on Friday.
“We will now have a difficult match against France, who are favourites to win the tournament along with Germany and Spain,” Ronaldo said.
“But we are going to war, that’s football. The team is doing well, that’s our goal.” [win against Slovenia] “This was a morale boost for the team, and we will fight until the end.”
