Ronaldo says Euro 2024 will be his last appearance at the Championship
Portugal's iconic forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, recently confirmed that the upcoming Euro 2024 will mark his final appearance in a European Championship. At the age of 39, Ronaldo presently holds numerous tournament records, including the highest number of appearances and goals. Though emotional after missing a penalty in extra time during the thrilling match against Slovenia, he regained composure and ultimately scored in the shootout to help Portugal secure victory and advance to the quarter-finals, keeping his dream of a remarkable swansong alive. This is prepared by SSP.
Having captained his country to victory over France in 2016, Ronaldo is formidable with six Euros under his belt. Additionally, he boasts an impressive tally of 14 goals, the highest in the tournament's history. However, despite yet to add to that count in Germany, Ronaldo expressed his determination to achieve a fairytale ending after Roberto Martinez's side narrowly avoided an upset.
Speaking to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, Ronaldo stated unequivocally, "It is, without doubt, my last European Championship." While acknowledging this fact, he emphasized that his emotions are fueled not by his forthcoming retirement but by the profound love he has for the game, the enthusiasm of his fans and family, and the affection people have shown him. Ronaldo expressed his motivation as being centered around the joy he brings to others, highlighting that leaving the realm of football itself isn't the primary concern.
Ronaldo's journey in the current tournament has encountered personal hardships, such as failing to score despite striking more shots towards goal than any other player. However, his resilient spirit shone through when, in the face of Portugal being awarded a penalty in the first half of extra time, he stepped up to take the shot. Jan Oblak's outstanding save dashed Ronaldo's hopes momentarily, inducing tears and describing the moment as "rock bottom."
Nevertheless, Ronaldo maintained his composure, adhering to the indomitable spirit of all football greats. During the subsequent penalty shootout, he successfully converted Portugal's first penalty, contributing to their progression, enabled through the heroic efforts of goalkeeper Diogo Costa. Reflecting on this experience, Ronaldo humbly remarked, "You don't fail if you don't try. Obviously, it's frustrating when you don't score, but it's forgotten now. The final result is the most important thing. Sometimes it's hard to score penalties. I've lost on penalties twice this year but today, I won. Football has to be fair sometimes, and today it was."