Ronaldo drops retirement hint
Cristiano Ronaldo has conceded he “can’t think long term anymore” as he approaches his forties.
Ronaldo, who has scored the most goals in history, is still starring for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, while he is a regular starter for Portugal under Roberto Martinez.
The former Real Madrid superstar turns 40 in February, though is showing no signs of slowing down and has already scored 10 goals for his club this season.
He also hit the 900-career goals mark when he netted for his country against Croatia in September, and has since added two more international strikes to his vast collection.
Ronaldo has publicly set out his aim to net 1,000 goals before he retires, but he knows short-term targets are now the order of the day in the twilight of his career.
“I now face my life as living in the moment. I can’t think long term anymore,” Ronaldo said after receiving the Platinum Quinas, the highest honour available to Portuguese players.
“I said that I wanted to reach 1,000 goals, but it seems that now everything is easy, just last month I reached 900.
“It’s about living in the moment, seeing how my legs will respond in the next few years. If I reach 1,000 goals, that’s fine, but if I don’t, I’m already the player with the most goals in history.”
Ronaldo’s Portugal host Poland in the Nations League on Friday before taking on Croatia three days later.-beinsports
No issue with Viní Jr over Ballon d’Or snub – Rodri
Rodri has said he has no problem with Vinícius Júnior and Real Madrid after they boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony, as the Manchester City and Spain midfielder picked up the 2024 men’s award.
Madrid’s delegation decided to skip the event organised by France Football and UEFA in Paris on October 28 as they suspected favourite Vinícius would miss out on the prize.
It emerged that Rodri received 41 points more than the Brazil international in voting by a panel of 100 international journalists, with Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal finishing third and fourth in the poll.
“Why would it hurt me that Vinícius wasn’t there?” Rodri who is out of action with a long-term ACL injury picked up in September said in an interview with COPE radio on Monday.
“It was my moment, to enjoy with my family. The last thing I’d be thinking about is people who weren’t there, and didn’t want to participate.”
Rodri was a key part of Manchester City’s Premier League title win last season and Spain’s victory at Euro 2024, while Vinícius helped Madrid land a La Liga and Champions League double.
“I love that people vote what they feel. It’s someone’s opinion,” Rodri said. “I respect Vinícius hugely, and Real Madrid, and anyone who knows me knows it … I’d vote for Carvajal, and Vinícius too. Maybe Carvajal second.”
“Renewing my contract isn’t my priority now,” he told COPE. “I want to recover from my injury and we’ll see … I like to live in the present, I’m very happy there [at City], it’s been my home since I arrived in England.
“It doesn’t make sense to close any doors. But I feel very comfortable there.”—ESPN
