Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest footballers of all time, has dropped his biggest hint yet that retirement is on the horizon.
The 39-year-old Portuguese superstar, who currently plays for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, admitted he is nearing the end of his illustrious career after scoring his latest goal in a 2-1 victory over Al-Rayyan in the AFC Champions League.
The forward, who has scored 904 career goals, has enjoyed a glittering career, representing clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, while also netting 132 goals in 214 caps for Portugal.
Despite his age, Ronaldo has shown no signs of slowing down, adding 64 goals and 17 assists in 71 games for Al-Nassr since joining the Saudi club.
Speaking after the match, Ronaldo acknowledged that his time on the field is limited. Despite having just one year left on his current contract, Ronaldo expressed happiness with his life in Saudi Arabia.“I’m just enjoying playing football now as I know I don’t have much time left on the pitch. It is not important to me now to be the best player or to win awards. “The most important thing is not being considered the best player or winning awards. It’s about enjoying the game and being useful to my club and the national team.”
“I’m very happy at this club; I feel good in this country too. I’m happy to play in Saudi Arabia, and I want to continue,” he said.
In a touching moment after his latest goal, Ronaldo pointed to the sky, dedicating the strike to his late father, José, on what would have been his 71st birthday. José Ronaldo passed away in 2005 when Cristiano was just 20, due to an alcohol-related liver condition.
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Ronaldo’s comments come just weeks after he opened up about the inevitable end of his career on the “Rio Ferdinand Presents” podcast, where he admitted he would miss the adrenaline of scoring and the nerves that come with high-pressure moments.
Ronaldo, who was presented with a special “Greatest of All Time” jersey by Al-Nassr, added: “Records are part of me, and I’m used to breaking them. I’ve felt pressure since my first day, and I think I’ll feel it until the last.”
“I’m going to miss the adrenaline of scoring a goal, and (the feeling) of being nervous. But I give everything, to 40, 41, it doesn’t matter. I give my body for 25 years of football and I cannot give more because age doesn’t allow me to go further,” he shared.
Despite a difficult Euro 2024 campaign, where he faced criticism for failing to score, Ronaldo remains committed to the game.
“I know for two or three years more I can still produce something good. But after that, I don’t even want to think about it. Let me think in the present and prepare other parts, like my business area,” he added.
