Cristiano Ronaldo has said that he intends to retire from football within the next “two or three years,” however, he has yet to decide when his illustrious career will come to an end.
The 39-year-old, who will turn 40 on February 5, 2025, continues to excel for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia and is still active on the world stage.
In a recent interview with NOW, Ronaldo said that his retirement from international football will be an unexpected decision, according to Marca.
The Portuguese star, who recently faced questions about his future after a goalless UEFA Euros campaign, is still committed to his national team duties under coach Roberto Martinez.
Fans are eager about what comes next for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner as he prepares for future matches against Al Nassr and Portugal.
Despite the talk, Ronaldo stays focused on his national team commitments.
“What I want now is to be able to help the national team,” he added, signalling his desire to continue playing for Portugal as they prepare for the upcoming Nations League matches under coach Roberto Martinez.
“When I leave the national team, I will not tell anyone; it will be a very spontaneous decision on my part,” Ronaldo said during an interview with Portuguese channel NOW.
Ronaldo dismissed the possibility of coaching and hinted at pursuing opportunities outside of football while continuing to build his brand.
“At the moment, I’m not thinking about being a coach of the first team or any team. It doesn’t even cross my mind; I’ve never thought about it. I don’t see my future going through that,” Ronaldo stated, making it clear that his post-retirement plans do not involve staying in the football world in a managerial role.
He has already made great progress in developing his brand and increasing his business interests, such as starting a YouTube channel that gained over 16 million followers in 24 hours last week.
“I see myself doing other things outside of football, but only God knows what the future holds,” he remarked, leaving fans curious about what the next chapter of his life will look like.
For the time being, Ronaldo’s emphasis is on his existing responsibilities, which include future matches with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and the possibility of representing Portugal in their Nations League opening against Croatia on September 5.
