Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that he’s nearing retirement after his latest strike for Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo, 39, is one of the greatest footballers to ever play the game, with the Portuguese superstar having scored 904 career goals.
The forward has represented the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, while he has also netted 132 goals in 214 caps for Portugal.
Ronaldo – who has also won five Ballon d’Ors – now plays for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr where he has added 64 goals and 17 assists in just 71 games.
His latest strike came on Monday night as Al-Nassr beat Qatari side Al-Rayyan 2-1 in their second AFC Champions League game this season.
Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that he’s nearing retirement after his latest strike for Al-Nassr
The 39-year-old says he’s fully focused on team accolades rather than individual awards
And afterwards, the veteran claimed that’s he’s close to bringing down the curtain on his career and insisted he’s not focused on winning individual accolades.
‘I’m just enjoying playing football now as I know I don’t have much time left on the pitch’, Ronaldo said.
‘It is not important to me now to be the best player or to win awards. What is important to me now is to enjoy and help my team’.
In a change from his usual celebration, Ronaldo pointed to the sky after he scored his latest goal.
Ronaldo dedicated his goal to his father after scoring on what would have been his 71st birthday.
His father Jose died aged 52 of in 2005 of an alcohol-related liver condition when Ronaldo was 20 years old.
Ronaldo’s latest comment on retirement comes just weeks after he admitted that he realised his career was entering its twilight phase and opened up on what he will yearn for once he retires while speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.
‘I’m going to miss the adrenaline of scoring a goal, and (the feeling) of being nervous,’ he said.
‘I think I’m going to miss that because in other part of me, I can control that. I have good people around me, good business, I have good things.
Cristiano Ronaldo produced an emotional celebration after scoring for Al-Nassr
‘But I (will miss the fact that) the adrenalin of football is never going to exist (again). This is why I’m going further than football.
‘I give everything, to 40, 41, it doesn’t matter. I give my body for 25 years of football and I cannot give more because age doesn’t allow to go further.’
Ronaldo, who shows no signs of slowing down despite his age, has also won 33 trophies during his career.
Despite a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign where he failed to score for Portugal and faced much criticism, the 39-year-old also insisted that he still has plenty to give to the game.
‘This is why I extend and take care of myself and keep working.
‘Because I know for two or three years more I can still produce something good,’ he added.
Ronaldo previously admitted that he will ‘probably be a little lost’ once his career ends
‘But after that I don’t even want to think about that. Let me think in the present and prepare other parts, like my business area.
‘I will miss it and I will probably be a little lost.’