Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday sparked emotions among his fans and the football fraternity when he owned up to his impending retirement.
The 39-year-old Portuguese forward 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 five-time ballon d’Or winner currently plays for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr,
Speaking after the match, Ronaldo acknowledged that his time on the field is nearing the zenith.
According to him, “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. What is important to me now is to enjoy and help my team”.
Earlier during the match 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”.
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.
His is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, a recognition he shares with his longtime rival, Lionel Messi.
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.
“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.
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