Ronaldo wants to play till Euro 2024, says journey on pitch is not over yet
Lisbon: Cristiano Ronaldo has set his sights on reaching Euro 2024 and the Portugal and Manchester united forward says he has no plans to retire any time soon.
“My journey is not over yet, you’re going to have to put up with ‘Cris’ for a while longer,” said Ronaldo on Tuesday, ater receiving a trophy at the Portuguese football federation’s (FPF) Quinas de Ouro awards in Lisbon for being the top national team goalscorer of all time.
“I want to be part of the World Cup and the Euros ... I feel very motivated. My ambition is great,” the 37-year-old said.
Ronaldo earlier this year had already dismissed retirement talks when asked if the World Cup in Qatar would be his last. The forward has been struggling at Manchester united and has not been an undisputed starter with the English club.
Ronaldo has scored 117 goals in 189 Portugal appearances and is expecting to play in his 10th major international tournament for his country at Qatar 2022.
The forward’s brace against the Republic of Ireland in September 2021 allowed him to overtake Iranian great Ali Daei’s haul of 109 goals as the record international scorer. Ronaldo eventually stayed at Manchester united this summer despite speculationhewouldswitchclubs,anddespitebeing benched for Premier League matches he scored in the team’s last outing at Moldovan minnows FC Sheriff in the Europa League.
He is preparing with Portugal for Nations League matches at the Czech Republic on Saturday and against Spain at home three days later.
Ronaldo was thrilled to add another award to his collection as he got a standing ovation.
“I’m happy,” he said.
“I already missed receiving an award. It’s with pride that I see guys I played with, with whom I’m going to play.”
Winner of the inaugural edition of the Nations*
League in 2019, Portugal trail Spain by one point entering the final two games. Only the group winners will advance to the Final Four.
The former Juventus and Real Madrid forward thenjokedaboutthelengthofhiscareer.helaughed and said, “Diogo [Dalot, a united and Portugal teammate] even jokes with me ‘you played with everyone, until you become a carcass,’ and it’s true.”
Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who plays with Ronaldo at united, has backed Ronaldo to continue to break records in his international career ater the World Cup, which begins in Qatar in November. Whoever could believe that he didn’t want to be at that European Championship doesn’t know him,” Fernandes told a news conference on Wednesday.
“We know well the resilience, taste and ambition he has shown over the years. It’s not new. We know that Cristiano wants to achieve things that others have never achieved. He will always have the same importance. He is the best player in the world, and he will continue to overcome barriers that others cannot.”
There is still some argument, mainly from South America about which of the two great Ronaldos, both of legends at Real, is the greater, and part of the case in favour of Brazil’s Ronaldo, ahead of Portugal’s are the fact of his two World Cup gold medals. Brazil’s Ronaldo was a non-playing substitute in 1994, but the hero eight years later. But by 2006, he would be thoroughly upstaged by his namesake, or CR7, the great record-breaker of 21st century football.
Meanwhile, veteran central defender Pepe will not play for Portugal in the Nations League because of an injury, the Portuguese soccer federation said on Wednesday. The federation said the decision was made ater doctors evaluated Pepe following his arrival at the team’s training camp this week. It did not say what his injury was.
The 39-year-old Pepe last played with Porto in the team’s 4-0 loss at home to Club Brugge in the group stage of the Champions League on Sept. 13.
The federation did not say if coach Fernando Santos would call a replacement for Pepe.
Joao Felix and Bernardo Silva practiced separately as Portugal began its preparations, but they were expected to rejoin the rest of the group soon.