Cristiano Ronaldo dismisses retirement speculation.
‘Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he has no plans to quit soccer as he aims for Euro 2024 glory,’ British media outlet Goal.com reported on Thursday (KST).
Portugal defeated Slovakia 3-2 in a UEFA Euro Group J qualifier at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto, Portugal, on Thursday. Ronaldo scored two goals in the match, showing that he is not dead yet.
After Gonzalo Hamus headed home a Bruno Fernandes cross, Ronaldo struck the wedge in the 29th minute to give Portugal the lead.
Slovakia pulled one back in the second half through David Hanko, but Ronaldo was once again in the right place at the right time to score Portugal’s third goal, which proved to be the game-winner.
Ronaldo moved to Al Nasr in the Saudi Professional League last season. He found another prime in Saudi Arabia last season. He scored 17 goals and showed class, but his team was knocked out of the cup competition and lost the league title race. However, they qualified for the AFC Champions League and are playing in the Asian Champions League this season.
This season, he has been even more terrifying. In the Arab Club Champions Cup, he scored six goals in six games, not only being the top scorer but also helping his team win the title. He showed that Ronaldo isn’t dead yet with his clutch ability.
He also scored five goals and two assists in three games in August, earning him the Saudi Professional League’s August Player of the Month award. He has continued his good form in September and October, scoring 10 goals and providing five assists in eight games.
After another impressive performance for Portugal, Ronaldo dismissed speculation of retirement from international duty and said he will be ready to help his country regain the Euro trophy in Germany next year. “I still have a lot of time left, so I want to play at Euro 2024 and I hope I can do it without any problems or injuries,” he said.
“I left Portugal early, but it will always be my home. The Portuguese fans support me in every stadium in Portugal. The Portuguese people should also be congratulated for their hospitality and this qualification belongs to them,” he told reporters.
Asked if he still wants to play for the national team, Ronaldo said: “Of course I will go to Bosnia, but I don’t know how the coach will decide. I’m always ready to help the national team and I can do whatever the coach wants. All 24 players are ready to help.”
In a post-match interview with Al Ahly, Ronaldo said, “I will continue to play as long as my legs allow. I still love soccer at my age. I love to play, I love to score goals, I love to win games. So far I’m in good shape and I can help my team, and the most important thing for me is to help the team win big. That’s the most important thing,” he said.
In the past, Ronaldo has said he wants to be in top form until 2024, and now he wants to play until 2027. Ronaldo will turn 39 next February and will be 41 by the time the next World Cup rolls around.
Ronaldo’s Portugal lost 1:0 to Morocco at last year’s World Cup in Qatar. He had to walk through the tunnel in tears after losing the chance to win the World Cup, and he had to watch Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, lift the trophy.
Ronaldo disputed the notion that winning the World Cup would determine the ranking of Messi and Ronaldo. “Even if I win the World 토토 Cup, the debate will continue. Some people will like me more and some people will like me less.”
“I’ve always had to show what I can do. I’m very ambitious, but even if I don’t win any more, I’ll be happy with what I’ve accomplished so far.”
“History has all the other records. But obviously it would be great to win a World Cup. It would be a dream come true,” he said.