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Cristiano Ronaldo “has no intention of retiring from international football following Portugal’s World Cup elimination… and is determined to reclaim his place to lead his country to Euro 2024 at the age of 39.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to continue playing for Portugal until at least Euro 2024, according to reports.
Ronaldo’s team exited the World Cup on Saturday at the quarter-final stage after losing 1-0 to Morocco, and the 37-year-old was in tears as he made his way down the tunnel after the final whistle.
It seemed like it might have been the last time fans got to see the five-time Ballon d’Or winner on the international stage, but Ronaldo has no intention of making that his swan song.
Cristiano Ronaldo started on the bench for Portugal’s last two games in Qatar
She was left in tears after Portugal’s World Cup elimination at the quarterfinal stage on Saturday.
He wants to continue playing with his country and already has his sights set on the next international tournament – Euro 2024 in Germany -, according to reports CM Magazine.
Ronaldo lost his place in Portugal’s starting XI in his team’s last two games in Qatar, but believes he can captain the team to the next European Championship, when he will be 39 years old.
Their cause could be favored if coach Fernando Santos leaves. Santos has been in charge of the national team since 2014 and led them to glory at Euro 2016, but could show him the door after Portugal’s elimination in Qatar.
He insisted that he still had a “close relationship” with Ronaldo even after he dropped the star, but it seemed like he lost patience with him midway through the tournament.
Ronaldo’s intention to continue appearing for the national team reiterates the message he delivered on his Instagram on Sunday when he insisted that “I would never turn my back on my teammates and my country.”
Ronaldo is determined to continue playing for his country at least until Euro 2024 in Germany
His full Instagram post read: “Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career.”
‘Fortunately I won many titles of international dimension, including Portugal, but putting the name of our country on the highest foot in the world was my biggest dream.
I fought for it. I fought hard for this dream. In the five appearances I’ve scored in World Cups over the course of 16 years, always alongside great players and supported by millions of Portuguese, I gave it my all. Leave everything on the field. I never gave up on the fight and I never gave up on that dream.
Ronaldo feels that he can return to the team and lead the team after being eliminated by Fernando Santos
‘Unfortunately yesterday (Saturday) the dream ended. It is not worth reacting in the heat of the moment. I just want you to know that a lot has been said, a lot has been written, a lot has been speculated, but my dedication to Portugal has not changed for a moment. I was always one who fought for everyone’s goal and would never turn my back on my teammates and my country.
‘There’s not much more to say for now. Thanks Portugal. Thanks Qatar. The dream was nice while it lasted… Now, it’s time to hope that time will be a good adviser and allow everyone to draw their own conclusions.’
Ronaldo needs to make just one more appearance to become the most capped player in international men’s football.
He came off the bench against Morocco to play his 196th cap, drawing with Kuwait’s Badr Al-Mutawa.
If he makes it to Euro 2024, it would be his sixth European Championship, 20 years after his first, when he announced himself on the international stage by helping Portugal reach the final before Greece defeated them.