Portugal and Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that his retirement from football is approaching, suggesting that the emotional moment may arrive sooner than many fans anticipate.
The 40-year-old, who has scored an astonishing 952 career goals, acknowledged that the end of his glittering journey in football is drawing near.
Speaking in an interview with Piers Morgan, shared on YouTube on November 4, Ronaldo said:
“It will be tough, of course. It will be difficult? Yes. Probably will cry, yes. I’m an open person. It will be very, very difficult, yes.
“But Piers, I prepared my future since 25, 26, 27 years old, I prepared my future. So I think I will be capable to support that pressure.”
Ronaldo is confident he will be able to cope without football because he wants to focus on his family and his off-the-pitch interests.
“Nothing will be able to compare the adrenaline that we have for football to score a goal,” he said.
“But everything has a beginning, and everything has an end. I have other passions. I’m going to have more time for me, I’m going to have more time for my family to raise my kids.
“I want to follow Cristiano Junior because he’s at an age when kids do stupid things. I was the same. Mateo loves football as well. I want to do more fun things. I love playing Padel with my closest friends. We are getting quite good.”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, whose contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr runs until 2027, reflected on the emotional challenge of eventually walking away from the game that made him a global icon.
Ronaldo’s illustrious career has spanned two decades across Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr, as well as a record-breaking international tenure with Portugal, where he remains the all-time leading scorer in men’s football.
