Cristiano Ronaldo says his international future is not over. The Portugal captain said he will keep playing for his country after the World Cup, and he has set an eye-catching target to go with it: 1,000 career goals.
Ronaldo, who is 41-year-old and turns 42 in February, has spent much of the end of his international career dealing with criticism and questions about how long he can continue at the top level. But his comments on Thursday made his position clear. He said he had thought about his future and the present, and that the fact he was speaking now meant he would continue.
He also made the emotional side of the decision obvious. Ronaldo said that if people say they do not want him in the national team, he will be the first one to go and will take his suitcase and leave. At the same time, he stressed that the Portuguese count on him and that he will always be the No 1 fan of the federation.
Why Ronaldo’s comments matter
The update comes after a turbulent World Cup for Portugal. In the summer, Ronaldo captained Portugal before the team exited to Spain in the last 16. That tournament added more questions about how much longer one of football’s most famous figures would stay involved with the national side.
Instead, Ronaldo has pushed the discussion in the opposite direction. He now appears focused on extending a career that already includes 233 caps and a goal tally that keeps moving toward a rare personal milestone. He is short of 1,000 goals, a number that would mark another major chapter in a career that has already stretched across generations.
There is also a fresh coaching backdrop in Portugal. Jorge Jesus has replaced Roberto Martínez as head coach, and on Thursday Jesus was set to start Ronaldo in his first game in charge against Wales in the Nations League. That is another sign Ronaldo remains central to the national team picture, even as the staff around him changes.
Ronaldo’s longevity also gives the story historical weight. Almost 18 years ago, he scored twice in Manchester United’s 2-0 win over West Ham at home. He is now approaching the end of a remarkable run, but his latest comments show he is not treating this like a farewell tour.
Craig Bellamy summed up the scale of Ronaldo’s presence before Wales played Portugal on Thursday, saying he is beyond a superstar. For Portugal, the immediate question is how long that level of influence can last. For Ronaldo, the answer appears to be simple: keep playing, keep scoring, and keep chasing 1,000.
