Cristiano Ronaldo was heading to his room at the Portugal training camp when he noticed Geovany Quenda at the end of the hallway and decided to greet the young player making his senior international debut.
“So, are you feeling better after the game?” Ronaldo asked, referring to Sporting’s recent 2-0 victory over Porto.
Quenda, just 17 and shy, found it hard to respond. He was born after Ronaldo first played for Portugal back in 2003.
Despite facing criticism following Portugal’s exit in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, Ronaldo has made it clear he plans to continue playing for his country. He has been vocal about this, especially after not holding a single press conference during the tournament.
In a recent interview with Now, a local broadcasting channel where he is a major shareholder, Ronaldo stated that he would not announce his retirement from international football in advance; it would be a spontaneous decision. For now, he feels that time has not come as he pursues the milestone of 1,000 career goals.
Ronaldo’s Career Goals Breakdown
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- Al-Nassr: 72
- Juventus: 101
- Manchester United: 145
- Portugal: 132
- Real Madrid: 450
- Sporting CP: 5
Total: 905 goals (Source: Opta)
Ronaldo was Portugal’s most utilized player during the summer tournament in Germany, playing 485 minutes, which is 94% of available time. He has scored twice in two matches as Portugal began their Nations League campaign last month.
As Portugal prepares to face Poland this Saturday, Ronaldo aims to add to his total of 905 career goals, proving his critics wrong. Coach Roberto Martinez is supportive of him, stating, “It’s very difficult to be Ronaldo,” and emphasizing that statistics from the Euros showed he was effectively utilized.
A leading Portuguese newspaper, Expresso, humorously referred to these statistics as “top secret.” However, they have been enough to secure Ronaldo’s position in the team for the 2026 World Cup cycle.
Football analyst Tomas da Cunha commented that the debate surrounding Ronaldo’s age is secondary to his overall performance. He pointed out that while Pepe’s performances at 41 were praised, Ronaldo’s were criticized in recent tournaments. Despite previous attempts by former coach Fernando Santos to reduce Ronaldo’s influence, current coach Martinez has kept him integral to the team.
