Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has revealed he considered retiring after the 2026 World Cup but ultimately chose to extend his career. The Al-Nassr forward is now targeting a personal milestone of 1,000 career goals and aims to help Portugal achieve further success.
Ronaldo, who confirmed this summer that the 2026 World Cup would be his last, is included in Jorge Jesus' 25-man squad for Portugal's upcoming Nations League campaign. This campaign begins on Thursday night in Lisbon against Wales, where he will need 21 more goals to reach his 1,000-goal target.
The former Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus player stated he believes he can still contribute to the national team, not only through goals but also by supporting a new generation of young talents. Ronaldo, a two-time Nations League winner, also expressed his ambition to secure a third title with Portugal.