Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up about his future in football, saying only a serious injury could force him to hang up his boots.
The Portuguese captain made this revelation following his country’s dramatic victory over Spain in the UEFA Nations League final, where he admitted playing through an injury.
Despite the discomfort, Ronaldo was determined to make a difference for his nation.
The injury, he explained, wasn’t severe enough to keep him out of action, so he chose to give it his all on the pitch.
The 40-year-old Al Nassr forward played a pivotal role as Portugal clinched their second UEFA Nations League title on Sunday.
He scored the vital equaliser that pushed the game into extra time before the match was ultimately decided by penalties.
Portugal triumphed 5-4 in the shootout to lift the trophy in Germany.
Ronaldo, who had to be taken off in the 86th minute due to his physical struggles, shared after the game, “I felt the injury since the warm-up, it’s been bothering me for a while. But for Portugal, if I had to break my leg, I would do it.
“It’s a title, I had to play and gave everything.”
Reflecting on his career and what lies ahead, Ronaldo acknowledged that his retirement may not be far off but insisted he still has no concrete plans to stop.
“You know how old I am already, obviously I’m closer to the end than I was at the beginning but I have to enjoy every moment.
“If I don’t get seriously injured, I’ll keep going,” he added.