Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed on the eve of Portugal’s round of 16 tie against Spain that this World Cup will be his final one, ending years of speculation over his international future with a mixture of defiance, humour and reflection.
Speaking in Dallas ahead of Monday’s game at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, the 41 year old finally said what many had long suspected. “This will be my last World Cup, God willing tomorrow is not my last game,” he said. Should Portugal lose to Spain, it would eliminate them from the tournament and bring Ronaldo’s international career to a close, 23 years and 232 caps after his debut, a substitute appearance against Kazakhstan in front of 8,000 people in Chaves, in place of Luis Figo.
Ronaldo made clear he held no regrets regardless of how his final World Cup ends. “I’m not missing anything, God has been generous to me. I won’t be more Cristiano or less Cristiano if I win the World Cup or not,” he said.
The Portugal captain also took aim at years of criticism, embracing the scrutiny that has followed him throughout his career. “They’ve tried to kill me for 23 years. There’s no point paying too much attention to it. It’s part of it,” he said. “People in Portugal have faith, they never fail us, they’re always on our side, my side. All the rest is rubbish. It doesn’t matter at all. I’m not lacking anything in life. God has given me everything, more than I ever expected.”
Speaking to reporters in three languages, Ronaldo struck a similarly combative tone when pressed further on his future. “You have been trying to kill me for the past 23 years, but you must have seen that is not worth it, it’s a waste of time, but you try and try and try and try and try. I am so used to this,” he said. When one reporter suggested he might not return, Ronaldo shot back with a smile, “You don’t want me back.”
He acknowledged he is no longer the player he once was but pointed to his contribution at this tournament as evidence he remains effective, having scored three goals in North America, two against Uzbekistan in a 5-0 group stage win and a penalty in the 2-1 victory over Croatia in the last 32, his first ever World Cup knockout goal. “I am not doing too bad,” he said.
Ronaldo, the leading scorer in the history of international football with 146 goals for Portugal, said age had brought him a different perspective on the criticism he continues to receive. “Age gives you maturity and experience to see how relative things can be. I even say thanks for the attacks I feel after I turned 40. The criticism is how you grow, so thank you for doing this,” he said.
He also reflected on the wider meaning of the tournament for him personally, describing it as the World Cup he had enjoyed most because of the emotions it had produced both on and off the pitch. “Whatever happens tomorrow, Cristiano Ronaldo will leave with a clear conscience, not 100 percent but 1,000 percent because in life and football I gave everything. I don’t need it, I live well, but it’s about passion. I play football because I love it. Whatever happens tomorrow I can’t put pressure on myself, saying we have the obligation to win. No, what will be will be. You have to enjoy it day to day,” he said.
Turning to Monday’s match, Ronaldo, who spent nine years at Real Madrid and considers Spain something of a second home, conceded Portugal go into the game as underdogs. “It’s going to be a very hard battle,” he said.
