Cristiano Ronaldo said after Portugal’s emotional shootout win over Slovenia on Monday that Euro 2024 will be the last of his career.
It’s unclear how much longer Ronaldo will play, but the Portuguese star will be 43 by the time Euro 2028 kicks off in the United Kingdom.
“It is, without doubt, my last European Championship,” Ronaldo told Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, per The Athletic’s Ben Burrows and Jack Lang. “But I’m not emotional about that. I’m moved by all that football means – by the enthusiasm I have for the game, the enthusiasm for seeing my supporters, my family, the affection people have for me.
“It’s not about leaving the world of football. What else is there for me to do or win? It’s not going to come down to one point more or one point less. Making people happy is what motivates me the most.”
Ronaldo made the announcement after Portugal’s last-16 encounter with Slovenia in which he missed and converted a penalty. Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak denied Ronaldo’s spot-kick in extra time to send the match to a shootout, but the 39-year-old, eager to atone for his earlier miss, converted Portugal’s first penalty with an emphatic shot into the side netting.
Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva converted their penalties, and goalkeeper Diogo Costa stopped all three of Slovenia’s attempts to book a quarterfinal date with France.
Ronaldo is still searching for his first goal of the tournament and a record-extending 15th since he made his Euro debut on home soil in 2004. He currently holds the record for the most tournament appearances (6), matches played (29), and assists (7) in Euro history.
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