Cristiano Ronaldo clarifies his future with the Portuguese national team

Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed his commitment to the Portuguese national team during a press conference at the Portugal Football Summit on September 23, 2026. The 41-year-old captain addressed rumors of his retirement, admitting he had considered ending his international career following Portugal's disappointing exit in the round of 16 at the recent World Cup against eventual champions Spain. Ronaldo clarified that he will continue playing as long as he feels he can contribute effectively to the squad and remains motivated.

Under new manager Jorge Jesus, who replaced Roberto Martinez, Portugal begins its UEFA Nations League campaign against Wales on September 24 at the Jose Alvalade Stadium. Ronaldo, who currently boasts 979 career goals (833 for clubs and 146 for Portugal), has publicly set a target of reaching 1,000 career goals. While he expressed a strong desire to win the Nations League, he acknowledged that this upcoming year could potentially be his last, though he promised to keep the public informed of his final decision when the time comes.