Cristiano Ronaldo’s roadmap to retirement and his formula for achieving sporting greatness

A timetable for Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement from football has not been mentioned, although he has stated that he is "enjoying the moment" instead.

Chirag

October 16, 2023

Cristiano Ronaldo has openly acknowledged that he is now focusing more on the short term when it comes to his football career. However, he has refrained from specifying any exact timeframe for his retirement.

Previously, Ronaldo had expressed his desire to maintain his top-level career until at least 2024, which included participation in the upcoming European Championship finals next summer.

Nonetheless, recent reports suggest that he may aim to continue playing until 2027. He will mark his 39th birthday in February, and he’ll be 41 when the next World Cup takes place in three years.

In 2021, the Portuguese football superstar achieved the title of the highest-ever international goalscorer, with a total of 125 goals in 202 caps for Portugal.

He led his national team during the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar and harboured a strong desire to participate in at least one more major tournament, especially after clinching the European Championship in 2016.

Ronaldo and his Portugal team suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat by Morocco in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This loss left him visibly emotional as he walked off the pitch, as it appeared to be his last chance to secure the only major trophy that has eluded him in his illustrious career.

Regarding his long-term future, Ronaldo has now expressed that he no longer dedicates extensive thought to it and finds it inappropriate to set a specific retirement date. He told reporters after scoring twice in Portugal’s 3-2 victory over Slovakia, “Things have happened in my life, both on a personal and professional level, that make me think more in the short term nowadays.”

“People say I’m going to play on until I’m 40 or 41 years old. I don’t set these targets. It’s a question of just enjoying the moment, which is a good moment. I feel good. My body is responding to how I’ve treated it over the years. I’m happy both at my club and in the Seleçao. I’ve scored plenty of goals, and I feel in good shape physically. It’s a question of enjoying the moment.”

Ronaldo had previously dismissed the notion that winning the World Cup would settle the debate about who is the greatest football player ever between him and Lionel Messi.

He stated, “Even if I win the World Cup that will continue. Some people like me more, some less. It’s like in life, some like blondes, some like brunettes.”

“I have always had to show what I can do year after year. I would love to win this tournament. I’m ambitious but if you tell me I won’t win any more tournaments I would still be happy given all I have won. In the history books, all other records will be there. But obviously a World Cup on the shelf wouldn’t be bad. It would be a dream.”