Cristiano Ronaldo (foto: Getty Images)
The captain of the Portuguese national football team, Cristiano Ronaldo, stated that despite being 39 years old, he still sees himself as part of Portugal's starting lineup as they aim to win the UEFA Nations League.
Portugal will face Croatia on Thursday at 8:45 PM in Lisbon in the first round of the elite stage of the Nations League. Zlatko Dalić’s team will then host Poland in Osijek on Sunday. Croatia is in Group 1 with Scotland, whom they will play in October.
"My confidence is intact. We played well at the European Championship, and now we have two good tests at home, which is great," Ronaldo said at a press conference at the national team camp. Portugal, who were eliminated by France on penalties in the quarterfinals of the European Championship two months ago, will also face Scotland in the Nations League this week.
"I would love for the stadium to be full; it would be a sign that the fans are behind us as we start this new cycle," said the forward, who has made 212 appearances and scored 130 goals for Portugal.
Croatia, who did not advance from the group stage at the Euros, where they played against Spain, Italy, and Albania, is also entering a new cycle ahead of the 2026 World Cup. "I feel good, almost in form. But the World Cup is in 2026, and I can’t say whether I’ll be there," said Ronaldo, who currently plays for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr.
"I’m happy to be with the national team, and my focus is on the Nations League, which we want to win," added Ronaldo, a former player for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
Ronaldo, who won the 2016 European Championship and the 2019 Nations League with Portugal, is the oldest player on the team, which now includes several younger talents. "It has always been important to integrate younger players. Since I’ve been here, the younger ones have always been well received. My role remains the same: to help those who are coming in," the forward said.
"Many young players feel uncomfortable talking to me. Just now, I saw Quenda, a 17-year-old kid. I went up to him and asked, ‘Have you recovered from the match?’ and he was clearly uncomfortable. In the national team, I’m like an older brother, or even a father to some," Ronaldo said with a laugh.
The media had previously questioned whether Ronaldo should continue playing for the national team, and there has been criticism of his performances. "Criticism is good because if there is no criticism, there is no progress," Ronaldo responded, adding that he strives to help both the national team and his club, "not just with goals, but with assists, discipline, and leadership."
"People who think they understand football don’t actually understand it because they’ve never been in the locker room. How could I, for example, give an opinion about Formula 1 if I’ve never been in the car? Well, I’ve been in the car, but I don’t understand the wheels, the weight…" Ronaldo joked.
Ronaldo said that he will respect the coach’s decision and help the team as much as he can. "I always think I’ll be in the starting lineup. But I will always respect the coach’s decisions, just as I have in all the clubs I’ve played for," Ronaldo said.
He emphasized that he will retire from the national team when the time comes, when he realizes that he can no longer help the team. "I will be the first to step forward when that time comes. It won’t be a difficult decision; it will be normal. We have the example of Pepe, who had an outstanding career, was a role model for everyone, and left on a high note," Ronaldo said. It’s worth remembering that defender Pepe retired this summer after the Euros at the age of 41.