Portugal national team captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, has chosen not to rush in determining the future of his international career. The 41-year-old player stated that he will delay any decisions regarding a potential retirement until the entire run of the 2026 World Cup tournament is completed.
Ronaldo revealed that he is prioritizing his focus on leading the Seleção das Quinas as far as possible in the competition. He plans to reflect deeply and consult with his family after the World Cup is over, regardless of the results achieved by Portugal at the end of the tournament.
This statement came shortly after Portugal secured a ticket to the round of 16 thanks to a 2-1 victory over Croatia in Toronto, Canada. In that match, Ronaldo played a crucial role by contributing a goal via penalty before being substituted in the 81st minute. He also emphasized that mental endurance is key for his team to remain competitive against great pressure on the world stage.
Portugal's victory was also highlighted by the brilliant performance of Gonçalo Ramos, the AC Milan forward who came on as a substitute and scored the winning goal. Ramos mentioned that he had received signals of trust from the captain before entering the pitch.
Now, Portugal is preparing to face a fierce Iberian derby duel against Spain in the round of 16. This highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place in Dallas, Texas, on early Tuesday morning.
