Cristiano Ronaldo said he considered quitting international football after the World Cup, but confirmed he plans to play on for Portugal and hopes to reach 1,000 goals for club and country. Ronaldo, who is 21 goals shy of the milestone, accepted some critics are trying to “kill” him but is determined to carry on.
Ronaldo, who has won 233 caps for his country, captained Portugal in the summer at the World Cup, where they exited to Spain in the last 16. Asked if he considered walking away from international duty, he replied: “Yes, I did. Of course, I’m always thinking about my decisions, my future, the present also. I’m a thinker; you have to think. This is why you see me here now, it means I will continue.
“I had a conversation with our president [Pedro Proença], with our coach. I still believe that I’m able to help the national team to reach what they want. I think I can give the national team my support, not only through the goals, but also outside of football. There is a new young generation, but for me the basic point is to be able on the pitch to score the goals and to help the team win games.
“Whenever they say they don’t want me in the national team, I will be the first one to go. When I think I am not adding anything to the team, or that I create an atmosphere, I will be the first to go. I will take my suitcase and leave. The Portuguese count on me. That’s why I’m still here … Just look at the numbers, I’m sure you can make some calculations, I’m still doing well. The day they don’t count on me, no problemo, I will leave. I will always be the No 1 fan of this federation.”
Jorge Jesus, the Portugal head coach who managed Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, said the 41-year-old would start in his first game in charge, against Wales in the Nations League on Thursday. Jesus, who has succeeded Roberto Martínez, also launched a passionate defence of Ronaldo, drawing applause from many in attendance at Portugal’s City of Football complex in Lisbon.
Craig Bellamy said Wales must enjoy facing “heavyweight” opposition in Portugal on Thursday and colourfully recalled being stuck at Lisbon airport because it was on lockdown to ensure Cristiano Ronaldo a “president-like” arrival.
Bellamy (pictured) twice visited the city on pre-season camps with Burnley, where he worked as assistant to Vincent Kompany for two years. “He is beyond a superstar,” the Wales manager said of the Portugal captain, whom he shared a pitch with in the Premier League almost 18 years ago, when Ronaldo, who turns 42 in February, scored twice in a 2-0 win for Manchester United at home to West Ham.
“There were rows of police cars everywhere,” Bellamy said of the moment he realised the airport was on lockdown. “We were like: ‘Something’s happened. We thought it was a security breach. We were stuck on the coach for about 10, 15 minutes. ‘When are we going to get off the coach?’ Suddenly this car turns up – I’ll be doing it a disservice but it was a Bentley or something like that – and parks in this parking slot, this guy walks out the front, goes to the boot, grabs this rucksack, and this other kid comes out the front, puts the rucksack on. Who is it? Ronaldo.
“Even the police are like [trying to look at Ronaldo] but no one could bother him. It was the coolest walk I’ve ever watched. For a minute, we were on the coach just jaws dropped. ‘Everyone who is moaning? Shut up.’ We don’t mind. We’re watching this … it was like president stuff. How can you lock off a whole airport? I won’t even be able to get my computer through customs at Cardiff. What have I just seen?”
Bellamy was effusive in his praise for Portugal’s all-time record goalscorer, who is closing on 1,000 goals for club and country. “Who gets 1,000 goals?” the 47-year-old said. “Seriously? It’s just silly, eh? I hope he gets it – but I hope he gets nothing on Thursday. We’re talking about one of the greatest players of all generations – his name will go down in history for hundreds and hundreds of years.” Ben Fisher
“Cristiano is a symbol of Portugal and the national team,” said Jesus, sitting alongside Ronaldo at the Portugal federation’s campus. “If he will play the games, he is not entitled to that, it is up to the manager to decide.”
Ronaldo cut a relaxed figure on stage alongside Jesus. “For me the most important thing is I know what I am,” he said. “I know what I do to be here, I know what I have done to have the success that I have had. I know why young kids love Cristiano, because they see me as an example, and I will continue to do that. Even when I am retired … in 10 years.
“I’m happy with myself. It doesn’t matter if I play tomorrow, if I’m rested for the next game, for me the most important thing is that I feel good. The people around me, they trust in my work. Focus on the people who love Cristiano, not the people who criticise me, so I am a happy person.”
Asked directly about the criticism, Ronaldo triggered laughter from many in the room by replying: “I cannot be 100% honest, sometimes I have to be politically correct.” He added: “I do understand that some TV channels like to criticise me, they’ve tried to kill me – with a shotgun – but I can still move away from it. Anyway, I am used to it. I have been doing this for more than 20 years, I’m quite used to it. What I can control, I will. What I can’t, I won’t.”
On Thursday Ronaldo will return to the Estadio José Alvalade, where he began his career with Sporting, before joining Manchester United in 2003. It is Portugal’s first game in Lisbon since beating the Republic of Ireland in a World Cup qualifier last October.
“It’s a special feeling because it was there where my beautiful history started,” Ronaldo said. “I’m very proud about that, to play for the national team after so many years, playing where I practically was opened to the world … It was a beautiful moment.
“It is always a pleasure to play for the national team, to wear the colours of Portugal. After so many years, it is [still always] like the first time. I will step on to the pitch with passion, emotion. I hope we can get off on the right foot. Because it’s at Sporting, it does feel a bit more special.
“It would be the cherry on the top of the cake to score my 1,000th goal with the national team. It would be the culmination of a beautiful story. I said I wanted to reach that target and I will reach that target. But I don’t have an obsession. If you are obsessed with something, you won’t get it … Just enjoy. Carpe diem, enjoy the day.”
