Cristiano Ronaldo said he is focused on “the present”, refusing to set a date for his international retirement when he appeared before the press on Wednesday, on the eve of the Nations League match against Wales. The 41-year-old announced earlier in the summer that this season would “probably” be the last of his career, prompting a volley of questions from reporters. “I’m no longer at an age where I think about the future,” said Ronaldo. “For me, the present is what matters most.”
“Scoring a thousandth goal with the national team would crown a beautiful story. Ronaldo also confirmed his ambition to reach 1,000 career goals, having already scored 979 in all competitions.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star said he was ready to step down from the national team as soon as the staff wanted it and hinted that he would announce his departure before playing his final match. “That would be the cherry on the cake,” he said. He said that the 72-year-old coach, with whom he worked last year at the Saudi club Al-Nassr, was “the perfect choice” to replace Spaniard Roberto Martinez. “He’s playing tomorrow and I hope he scores one or two goals right away, then I’ll take him off,” the coach said.
