Cristiano Ronaldo makes retirement hint after record Portugal win

Portugal’s veteran striker Cristiano Ronaldo has indicated that he might soon call it a day on his glorious footballing career. Ronaldo scored a brace for the national team in his team’s resounding 5-1 win against Poland in the UEFA Nations League at the Estádio do Dragão on Saturday.

Ronaldo recently said that reaching 1000 goals will be difficult for him as he is at the fag end of his career. The talisman scored from a spot kick in the 72nd minute and also found the back of the net in the 87th minute against Poland.

With this win, Ronaldo bagged another record for most wins in international men’s football. This was the 132nd victory for Ronaldo in Portugal’s colors, which helped him leapfrog former Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos, who won 131 matches with Spain.

“I just want to enjoy [myself],” he said. “Plan for retirement? if it has to happen, in one or two years … I don’t know. I’m turning 40 soon.

“I really want to enjoy, as long as I feel motivated I keep going. The day I don’t feel motivated, I will retire.”

Ronaldo said he has no intentions of becoming a coach in the second innings of his career.

“I don’t see myself managing a team; that’s not in my plans,” he said. “My future lies in other areas outside of football, although time will tell what happens.”

Portugal will take on Croatia in their final Nations League group game on Monday but Ronaldo has been released from the squad to join his club Al Nassr.