Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed his international retirement from tournament history ahead of the upcoming World Cup round of 16 match against Spain at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The 41-year-old forward has completed 23 years of international football, registering 232 games, 146 goals, and six World Cup appearances for his country, as reported by The Guardian.
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The knockout fixture marks a massive shift from his international debut against Kazakhstan at the Estádio Municipal Eng.
Manuel Branco Teixeira in Chaves, which featured 8,000 spectators compared to the 80,000 expected in Dallas.
"This will be my last World Cup; God willing tomorrow is not my last game," said Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal captain.
The veteran attacker expressed peace regarding his career achievements regardless of the outcome against Spain, noting his gratitude for his lengthy run at the highest level of international sport.
"I'm not missing anything; God has been generous to me," said Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal captain.
Defeat in the upcoming match would immediately eliminate the Portuguese squad and finalize the forward's tenure on the global tournament stage.
"I won't be more Cristiano or less Cristiano if I win the World Cup or not," said Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal captain.
Addressing a packed press conference in three languages, the captain dismissed persistent media speculation about his future while shifting the focus back onto team progression.
"You always ask the same question, whether this is the last one. We'll see.
