Cristiano Ronaldo jokes about media criticism as he hints at possible retirement

Thursday 24 - 14:00

By: Azzat Manal

Cristiano Ronaldo jokes about media criticism as he hints at possible retirement

Cristiano Ronaldo has addressed the intense scrutiny surrounding him and the Portugal national team, using a darkly humorous remark to describe the criticism he receives from parts of the media. Speaking at the Portugal Football Summit in Oeiras, the 41-year-old forward also admitted that the current season could be the final chapter of his playing career.

Ronaldo is preparing to begin a new international era under Jorge Jesus, who was appointed as Portugal’s new head coach following Roberto Martinez’s departure. The veteran striker praised Martinez for his work despite the criticism he faced and expressed confidence in Jesus as the team prepares for its upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign.

Addressing the media attention surrounding the national team, Ronaldo said he had to remain diplomatic when discussing criticism but acknowledged that he has continued to attract strong reactions. He joked that some media outlets “want to kill” him, adding that even in such an extreme scenario, he would still find a way to avoid the bullet. His comments were delivered in a humorous tone while reflecting his long-standing relationship with intense public scrutiny.

The Portugal captain also said he has become accustomed to being disliked by certain sections of the public. Rather than allowing criticism to influence him, he stressed that other people's opinions are beyond his control and do not affect his determination to continue playing at the highest level.

Ronaldo's future, however, remains one of the main questions surrounding Portugal. The former Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward said he does not yet know when he will retire, although he acknowledged that the current season could potentially be his last. He indicated that he would make an announcement when the time comes for his final match.

The Portuguese star had already fueled speculation about his retirement after saying that the period following the 2026 World Cup could mark the end of his career. He subsequently remained available for international duty and was included in Jorge Jesus' first Portugal squad, showing that he has chosen to continue for now.

Ronaldo also revealed that he had considered ending his international career after Portugal's World Cup campaign. His decision to remain involved was influenced, according to his comments, by the desire of both the new coach and the Portuguese football authorities for him to continue contributing to the national team.

Under Jesus, Ronaldo is expected to combine his goalscoring role with a leadership function among a younger generation of Portuguese players. The new coach has stressed that selection will depend on performances, while Ronaldo has made clear that he still wants to contribute on the pitch rather than simply occupy a symbolic role.

Despite approaching the twilight of his career, Ronaldo remains focused on sporting targets. He has said that reaching 1,000 career goals and winning another Nations League title with Portugal are among his objectives, suggesting that retirement is not yet occupying all of his attention.

Portugal's new era under Jorge Jesus is set to begin with a Nations League meeting against Wales, followed by matches involving Norway and Denmark. For Ronaldo, the coming months could therefore represent both the beginning of a new chapter with the national team and the final stage of one of the longest careers in modern international football.