According to ANSA, Ronaldo stated in an interview that he had considered retiring from the Portuguese national team after the 2026 World Cup but has decided to continue playing for his country.

Ronaldo had previously viewed the 2026 World Cup as his last major international tournament, though his future remained uncertain for some time. He said, "Yes, I thought about it – the possibility of leaving the Portuguese national team after that tournament. I always consider my decisions, my future, and the present as well. I am a thoughtful person and I have to think things through carefully."

What motivated Ronaldo to continue playing for his country were his discussions with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation and new head coach Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo stated, "I still believe I can help the national team achieve its goals." Beyond scoring goals, he also hopes to bring experience to a team undergoing generational change. Furthermore, he is just 21 goals away from 1,000 career goals.

Ronaldo spoke about his personal goals and winning the Nations League again, saying, "Both are important." Portugal has won the Nations League twice, in 2019 and 2025. Portugal's new generation of players includes Fabio Silva, Veiga, Mendes, João Neves, and Francisco Conceição.

Ronaldo also believes that interacting with younger players is one of the reasons he chose to continue playing for his country. He said, "For me, the most important thing is to be on the field, score goals, and help the team win."

When asked how much longer he could play, Ronaldo joked, "Even if I retire... that's still ten years from now!" He then added, "I am very happy with myself. Whether I play tomorrow or rest for the next game, the most important thing is that I feel good."

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