Fans of Portuguese soccer sensation Cristiano Ronaldo were left in shock recently when he gave them a big hint at his imminent hang-up from active football.
After the game between his Al Nassr and Al Rayyan in the AFC Champions League, Ronaldo stated that he was not focused on individual trophies.
Ronaldo says the goal of the captain for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia and of Portugal’s national team is to be the best team player.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar, without mentioning his plans for retirement, gave an inkling that his days in professional football were numbered, Mirror UK reported.
“Now, I just really enjoy playing football because I know I don’t have much time on the pitch. It’s not so important to be the best player for me, or the prizes/pains/awards. It’s more important to enjoy and help my teammates,” said Cristiano Ronaldo after the game.
It is suddenly pertinent here that the Portuguese star had scored the 900th goal in his career last month when Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in Lisbon in their opening game of the UEFA Nations League.
It was a 39-year-old Ronaldo turning in a Nuno Mendes cross in the 34th minute of this encounter at the Estadio da Luz that had him reach such a landmark. This was his 131st goal in a Portugal shirt, although half of his goals have come in the colors of Real Madrid, while the rest have been divided at Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, and current club Al-Nassr.
In an earlier interview, the former Manchester United star had opened up about the things he would miss once he eventually hangs his boots from active football.
I will miss the adrenaline of scoring a goal, a bit anxious. I think I will miss that because on another part of me, I am able to control that. I have good people around me, good business, I have good things. But I-those adrenaline-of football is never going to exist again.
This is why I’m doing more beyond football,” Cristiano Ronaldo said at the time. The Portuguese football star has, however, admitted that his body is not able to respond the way it would respond when in prime condition. “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 to go further,” Ronaldo said.
