Cristiano Ronaldo says he will take his time before deciding on the next chapter of his career after Portugal’s elimination by Spain in what he confirmed was his final FIFA World Cup appearance.
The 41-year-old Portugal captain had revealed before the last-16 clash that the tournament would be his last World Cup, and after Portugal’s 1-0 defeat, he admitted he would not make any immediate decisions about his future.
“It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll have time to think about the rest, to be with my family, not make rash decisions, and just get on with life,” Ronaldo said.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner described the exit as part of football’s realities and said he would leave the World Cup stage with a clear conscience.
“That’s football, that’s the life of a footballer,” Ronaldo said.
The all-time leading scorer in men’s international football also reflected on his greatest achievement with Portugal, highlighting the nation’s triumph at the 2016 European Championship.
“The truth is, the biggest title I won with the national team was in 2016 (Euros), which for me is just as significant as a World Cup, honestly,” he added.
