Ronaldo drops retirement hint after speaking to Portugal boss Roberto Martinez

28 December 2023 , 07:57

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Ronaldo drops retirement hint after speaking to Portugal boss Roberto Martinez

Cristiano Ronaldo appears to have hinted when he'll call time on his Portugal career, according to national team boss Roberto Martinez.

The five-time Ballon d'or winner made his debut for his country two decades ago and remains an integral part of Portugal's set-up, but at 38 years of age many fans and pundits alike are starting to question if the end of the road is near for Ronaldo when it comes to international football.

Those asking such questions will be intruiged by Martinez's comments during an interview with Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg, where the coach seems to suggest that Ronaldo could call it a day with Portugal after making 250 appearances.

"He was very close to 200 caps, something no other player had achieved before. Of course the conversation we had is private, but I can reveal one of the things he told me. [I asked him] If reaching 200 caps would interest you and he told me: '250 interests me'", Martinez confessed.

As the Portugal boss explained, Ronaldo became the first male player ever to reach 200 caps for his country earlier this year. However, that clearly hasn't satisfied the former Real Madrid superstar and it would look as if his aim is to represent his country at the 2026 World Cup.

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Currently, Ronaldo has 205 Portugal caps to his name. To add another 45 minimum to the mix, the ex-Manchester United ace would most likely have to appear at the 2026 World Cup competition in the USA, Canada and Mexico, by which time he'll be 41 years old.

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Cristiano Ronaldo is aiming to make 250 appearances for Portugal before he hangs up his boots (Sylvain Dionisio/Getty Images)

There are many out there who will feel like Ronaldo is past his best, but the statistics don't entirely agree. The ex-Manchester United man looks likely to end 2023 as the top male goalscorer in the world with 53 goals for club and country.

There is also Ronaldo's immense drive and desire that needs to be taken into account. In a career so illustrious that boasts so many individual and team trophies, the World Cup remains the only piece of silverware to still not be lifted by the goal machine.

The same cannot be said for Ronaldo's long-time Ballon d'Or rival Lionel Messi, who won the sport's biggest honour this time last year. That will no doubt be a thorn in the Portugal captain's side and something he'll do everything in his power to address.

Josh O'Brien