Cristiano Ronaldo considered retiring from international football after the World Cup before deciding to extend his career in Portugal.
Ronaldo – who turns 42 in February – will win his 234th cap against Wales in Lisbon on Thursday, with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus confirming the former Manchester United and Real Madrid man will start the Nations League games.
Some commentators have suggested the game at the Jose Alvalade Stadium – home of Ronaldo’s first club Sporting – could be his international farewell, but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said he will end it when “I feel like I’m not doing anything here”.
Age appeared to have caught up with Ronaldo this summer during a World Cup when many of the game’s biggest stars shone on its biggest stage, leading to speculation that his international career had run its course.
Asked if he thought about leaving Portugal after the World Cup, Ronaldo said: “Yes, I have. Of course, I always think about my decisions, my future, the present as well.
“I’m a thinker. You have to think. That’s why you see me here now. That means I’m going to keep going.
“I had a conversation with our president, with our coach. I still believe that I am able to help the national team to achieve what they want and I will finish when I feel like I am not doing anything here.
“I can give my support to the national team, not only through goals, but also outside of football.
“This is a new young generation. But for me the main point is to be on the pitch to score goals and help the team win games.”
The main Portuguese newspaper To Balli ran a poll before the Wales game inviting readers to pick their team and Ronaldo failed to make the starting XI.
Ronaldo said: “I often said it at home with my friends. I’ve been playing football for so many years, I’ve been welcomed almost everywhere, with a few exceptions.
“I feel that the Portuguese fans like me, but I understand that some TV channels want to criticize me.
“I am dying not to come to the national team, but I can still leave it.
“Anyway, I’m used to it. For more than 20 years I’ve been doing this, but my memories are with people who love me.”
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We look back at Ronaldo’s wildest moves and tricks from his Premier League spell with Manchester United.
Ronaldo, playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, currently has 979 career goals.
He denied he was obsessed with reaching 1,000 goals, although he added he would love to reach the milestone in Portugal colours.
“Scoring my 1,000th goal for the national team would be the pinnacle of something – a beautiful story,” he said. “It wouldn’t be the end, but it would be a beautiful story.
“I’ve already accepted that I want to get there and I will. An obsession? No. The rest is about enjoying it, enjoying every day.
“I know why little kids love Cristiano, because they see me as an example and I will continue to do that. Even when I retire… in 10 years.
“I’m happy with myself. It doesn’t matter if I play tomorrow, if I rest the next game, for me the most important thing is to feel good.”
Bellamy: Who scores 1000 goals? It’s just stupid
Craig Bellamy believes Cristiano Ronaldo’s name will be etched in football history for “hundreds and hundreds of years” as his Wales side prepare for Portugal in their Nations League opener.
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has confirmed that 41-year-old Ronaldo will start at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon on Thursday night, winning his 234th cap and looking to add to his 146 international goals.
“Seriously? Who scores a thousand goals? We’re not counting youth football or anything,” Bellamy said.
“It’s just stupid and I hope he gets it, but I hope he doesn’t get anything against us.
“The kind of impact he’s been able to have on the game, for him to still go on, you just have to sit in awe. That’s the honest truth, the guy is incredible.
“He has to adapt his game of course, but he is most dangerous when he is not in the game. You could never sleep on the pitch with this guy.
“We are talking about one of the greatest players of all generations, not only of this generation, of all generations.
“His name will go down in history for hundreds and hundreds of years. That’s the impact he had.”
