Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking sixth Euros appearance with Portugal will be his last.
“Without a doubt, it’s the last Euro [for me], of course it is,” Ronaldo, who would be 43 for the next Euros in 2028, announced on Portugal TVs RTP, as transcribed by ESPN.
“I’m not emotional about that,” Ronaldo, 39, told RTP. “I’m moved by everything that football entails, by the enthusiasm I have for the game, the enthusiasm I see in the fans, having my family here, people’s passion … it’s not about leaving the world of football. What else is there for me to do or win?”
The announcement from the Portuguese legend may explain why he was sobbing after missing an extra-time penalty kick that would have given his team the lead against Slovenia in the Round of 16, after the two teams did not score in regulation.
The match remained 0-0 after extra time, and in penalty kicks Ronaldo calmly delivered his shot into the back of the net, while Portugal’s keeper, Diego Costa, saved all three of Slovenia’s attempts to advance Portugal to the quarterfinals.
“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,” Ronaldo said, according to ESPN. “You can’t be afraid, I’ve never been afraid to face things head on, sometimes I get it right, sometimes I don’t, but giving up is something you’ll never hear from my name.”
Ronaldo has struck fear in the hearts of most teams he’s played against as the men’s all-time leading scorer in international play with 130 goals since making his international debut in 2003.
He helped lead Portugal to a 2016 Euros title, where he scored three goals and assisted on three others, although he was injured early in the 1-0 Finals win over France with an ACL sprain.
“The most important thing about the journey I’ve been on is the enthusiasm I still have for being here,” he said, per ESPN.
“It’s 20 years representing and playing with the national team, bringing joy to people, to the family, my children, that is what motivates me most.”
Ronaldo will try to extend his Euros career by at least one game when Portugal faces 2022 World Cup runner-up France on Friday.
The French are -150 favorites to move past Portugal, according to FanDuel.
“We will now have a difficult game against France, who are the favorites to win the competition along with Germany and Spain,” Ronaldo said, per ESPN. “But we are going to war — this is football. The team is doing well, this [win against Slovenia] was a boost of energy that the team had, and we will fight until the end.”
