Ronaldo vows to play on for Portugal at 41 and targets 1,000-goal milestone

Cristiano Ronaldo has pledged to continue his international career with Portugal, dismissing calls for his retirement and setting his sights on reaching 1,000 career goals, as the 41-year-old prepares for the Nations League campaign opener against Wales in Lisbon.

Ronaldo’s future with the national side was thrown into doubt after Portugal were eliminated from the World Cup by Spain in the last 16, a 1-0 defeat that the forward admitted prompted genuine reflection. “Yes I did” consider retiring, he told reporters, before explaining what changed his mind. “I had a conversation with our president, with our coach. I still believe that I’m able to help the national team to reach what they want, and will finish when I feel like I’m not doing anything here.”

The Al-Nassr striker enters the Nations League on 979 career goals for club and country. While Ronaldo denied that chasing the 1,000-goal mark was the primary motivation for continuing, he acknowledged the milestone holds personal significance and that he would welcome reaching it while on international duty. He currently has 146 goals in 233 appearances for Portugal.

Ronaldo’s place in the starting XI under new head coach Jorge Jesus — who replaced Roberto Martinez following the World Cup — has become a subject of intense debate in Portugal. The forward addressed his critics directly, using characteristically defiant language. “Some TV channels want to criticise me — they’ve tried to kill me, but only with a shotgun,” he said. “They are dying for me not to come to the national team anymore, but I can still move away from it. For over 20 years I have been doing this, but my memories are with people who love me.”

Beyond goals, Ronaldo framed his continued involvement as a mentoring role for a younger generation of Portuguese players. “I know why young kids love Cristiano, because they see me as an example, and I will continue to do that. Even when I am retired… in 10 years,” he joked. “I think I can give to the national team my support, not only through the goals, but also outside of football.”

On his own wellbeing, Ronaldo was relaxed about squad rotation. “It doesn’t matter if I play tomorrow, if I rest the next game — for me the most important thing is that I feel good,” he said.