Cristiano Ronaldo admitted that he seriously considered the possibility of leaving the Portuguese national team, but decided to continue, as he believes he still has something to offer.
“Yes, I thought about it. I always think about my decisions, the future, and the present. I’m a person who thinks a lot. The fact that I’m still here means I’ll continue,” he said.
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The 41-year-old Portuguese coach revealed that he discussed his future with the federation president and the national team coach before making his final decision. “I still believe I can help the national team achieve its goals. I’ll stop when I feel I have nothing more to offer here. I can help not only with my goals but also off the field,” he emphasized.
At the same time, Ronaldo also addressed the criticism he occasionally faces in his home country, following a poll by “A Bola,” in which several readers did not include him in the starting lineup they would like to see. “I feel that the Portuguese love me, but I understand that some TV channels want to criticize me. I’ve been dealing with this for more than 20 years. I hold on to my memories of the people who love me,” he said.
Portugal’s captain has now scored 979 goals in his career, though he made it clear that the 1,000-goal milestone is not an obsession for him, although he would like to reach it while wearing the national team jersey. “I know why young kids love Cristiano. They see me as a role model, and I’ll keep trying to be one. I’m happy with myself. It doesn’t matter if I play tomorrow or if I rest for the next game. What matters to me is feeling good,” he concluded.
*photo source: AP
