Jul 06 (V7N) — Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has once again declined to confirm whether the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the final tournament of his illustrious career, saying he will decide on retirement in his own time. However, the veteran forward insisted he has no regrets, having given everything to the game he loves.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Monday ahead of Portugal's Round of 16 clash against Spain, the 41-year-old said discussions about retirement are not his priority at the moment.
"I will decide when I retire. Everyone asks the same question—is this my last World Cup? We will see. Now is not the time to discuss these things. The most important thing is to play well in tomorrow's match," Ronaldo said.
Playing in a record sixth FIFA World Cup, the Portuguese star said he would leave the field with a clear conscience regardless of the outcome.
"Whatever happens tomorrow, I will leave the field with a 100 percent clear conscience. I have given everything I had to give to football. This is my passion. I have played for so many years not out of necessity, but because I love the game. I have always loved representing the national team," he added.
Ronaldo also dismissed suggestions that he is under pressure to win the World Cup before retiring.
"I am not putting any pressure on myself that I must win the World Cup. You have to enjoy every match on a stage like this. I have scored three goals so far. Maybe someone has done better, but I don't think I'm playing badly," he said.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner noted that he is enjoying this World Cup more than any of his previous five appearances and expressed confidence in Portugal's chances against Spain.
"If we didn't believe, we wouldn't be here. We are improving with every match. Spain is a very strong team and one of the tournament favourites. But this is a different competition. Small moments can decide everything, and I believe we will win," Ronaldo said.
He concluded by saying that if this does turn out to be his final World Cup, he wants to enjoy every moment of it.
"If this is my last World Cup, I want to enjoy it. But it will not be my last match in the tournament because I want to keep moving forward," he added.
If he features against Spain, Ronaldo will make his 233rd international appearance for Portugal. The match also carries special significance for the former Real Madrid star, who spent nine successful seasons in Spain. He has scored four international goals against the Spanish national team, including his memorable hat-trick in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Source: Al Jazeera
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