Ronaldo silences retirement questions ahead of Portugal's last-16 clash with Spain

Cristiano Ronaldo dismissed mounting speculation over his international retirement at a World Cup press conference on Sunday, telling reporters he would quit ‘when I want to, not when you want me to,’ ahead of Portugal’s last-16 tie against Spain on Monday.

The 41-year-old forward, quoted by Portuguese newspaper A Bola, was characteristically blunt when pressed on the subject. ‘It’s a waste of time to keep asking that question,’ he said, before redirecting focus to the knockout match against Portugal’s Iberian rivals. ‘The most important thing is the game against Spain.’

The questions were prompted in part by Ronaldo being substituted during Friday’s 2-1 last-32 win over Croatia, a result sealed by Goncalo Ramos’s stoppage-time strike after Ronaldo had converted a second-half penalty — his third goal of the tournament. Earlier in the group stage, he became the first player in history to score at six separate World Cup editions, netting twice in a 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan.

Portugal navigated Group K in second place behind Colombia, following a 1-1 draw with DR Congo, the win over Uzbekistan, and a goalless draw with the South Americans.

Ronaldo, who made his senior debut for Sporting as a 17-year-old in 2002, has spent the past three and a half years at Al Nassr and signed a contract extension with the Saudi club earlier this summer, keeping him there until 2027.

Despite the retirement noise, Ronaldo struck a confident tone about Portugal’s prospects. ‘If we didn’t have the idea that we could win the World Cup, we wouldn’t be here,’ he said. ‘It has been a beautiful experience. We have improved game by game. I see the team calm, we trained well, we prepared well. We will face a super difficult team, but we are prepared.’

Roberto Martinez’s side will need to be at their best against a Spain team that have been among the tournament’s more impressive sides, setting up what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the round of 16.