Cristiano Ronaldo has said he will not rush into making a decision about his future following Portugal’s 1-0 defeat to Spain, which marked the final World Cup match of his career.
The 41-year-old Portugal captain had confirmed on the eve of the last-16 clash that the tournament would be his last World Cup.
Speaking after Monday night’s defeat, Ronaldo said he plans to take time before deciding on the next chapter of his career.
“It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll have time to think about the rest, to be with my family, not make rash decisions, and just get on with life. That’s football, that’s the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you have to move on,” he said.
Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football, said he would leave the World Cup stage “with a clear conscience.”
“The truth is, the biggest title I won with the national team was in 2016 (the Euros), which for me is just as significant as a World Cup, honestly,” he said. “That’s why, I repeat, I’m leaving with a clear conscience, at my best, and that’s it. Tomorrow is a new day, and life goes on.”
Ronaldo led Portugal to their first major international title at UEFA Euro 2016 but never lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy. His best World Cup finish came in 2006, when Portugal reached the semi-finals before ending the tournament in fourth place
