Lisbon: Cristiano Ronaldo, the iconic Portuguese football star, confirmed in an exclusive interview with Portuguese public broadcaster RTP on Monday that the ongoing European Championship would mark his final appearance in the prestigious tournament.
“It is, without doubt, my last European Championship. 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,” Ronaldo expressed following Portugal’s hard-fought victory over Slovenia, securing their place in the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win on penalties.
Despite his illustrious career and numerous accolades, including leading Portugal to their Euro 2016 triumph and being the all-time top scorer in the history of the European Championship, Ronaldo, now 39, acknowledged that this tournament has not been his finest hour. He has yet to score a goal in the four matches he has played so far.
The Round of 16 encounter against Slovenia saw Ronaldo presented with a pivotal opportunity to end his goal drought when Portugal was awarded a penalty in Extra Time. However, Jan Oblak’s spectacular save denied Ronaldo, leaving fans and pundits alike stunned.