Ronaldo to keep playing for Portugal, eyes 1,000-goal milestone

Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he considered stepping away from international football after the 2026 World Cup, but ultimately chose to continue his career with Portugal. The 41-year-old confirmed over the summer that the upcoming World Cup would be his last, yet he has now been named in Jorge Jesus' 25-man squad for Portugal's Nations League campaign, which begins Thursday evening in Lisbon against Craig Bellamy's Wales.

The Al-Nassr forward is currently 21 goals short of reaching the milestone of 1,000 career goals. Discussing his decision to carry on, Ronaldo said he had spent time reflecting on his future before speaking with Portugal's federation president and national coach, concluding he could still contribute to the team's ambitions - both through goals and beyond.

Two goals in mind

The former Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus player said both his personal milestone and the team's ambitions matter to him, with winning a third Nations League title alongside Portugal among his aims. Ronaldo has already won the competition twice with his country.

Portugal's current squad also features a number of emerging talents, including Fabio Silva, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves and Francisco Conceicao. Ronaldo said supporting this younger generation was part of his motivation to keep representing Portugal, though he stressed his main focus on the pitch remains scoring goals and helping the team win.

The striker said he felt content with where he stands, adding that it does not matter to him whether he plays in the next match or rests, as long as he feels good. He joked he could continue playing for another decade, and said he hopes to remain a role model for young players even after retiring.