Cristiano Ronaldo said RTP of Portuguese television that Euro 2024 will be his last Euro.
“It is certainly the last Euro (for me), of course it is,” Ronaldo said the following Portugal beat Slovenia in the round of 16 on Monday.
“But I’m not excited about it. I’m excited about everything that goes into football, the enthusiasm I have for the game, the enthusiasm I see in the fans, having my family here, the passion of the people… It’s not about leaving the world of football. What else is there for me to do or win?”
Ronaldo, 39, is currently playing in his record sixth European Championship and has scored more goals (14) than any other male player in the tournament’s history. Portugal, who won Euro 2016, face France next Friday with a semi-final spot at stake.
Ronaldo made his debut at Euro 2004, hosted by Portugal, and scored two goals in the tournament, including the opener against the Netherlands in the semi-final before losing to Greece in the final.
In four games at Euro 2024, Ronaldo, the all-time leading men’s scorer with 130 goals, is yet to score after recording at least one goal in each of his previous five appearances in the competition.
During Monday’s win over Slovenia, Ronaldo saw his 114th-minute penalty saved by goalkeeper Jan Oblak. After being seen in tears during the break between the first and second periods of extra time, he converted his spot-kick in the shootout to help Portugal advance.
“It’s obviously frustrating when we can’t score, but that’s football,” Ronaldo said after the match. “In the end, the most important thing is that the result is positive.”
“I lost twice on penalties this year (against Al Ain in the ACL quarter-final shoot-out and against Al Hilal in the Copa del Rey final) and now I have won. I think football has to be fair sometimes and it was because I think Portugal deserved to win.”
Euro 2028, when Ronaldo will be 43, will be co-hosted by England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Wales and Scotland.