Portugal will face Wales in their first Nations League match, and captain Ronaldo attended the pre-match press conference. This is the first part of the conference.

Part two of the press conference:

Ronaldo: I won't play the full 90 minutes in every Nations League match; if Portugal doesn't need me, I'll step aside without issue.

You once said this year might be your last in professional football. Given your remaining goals this year, I want to ask you directly: Is it more important for you to win the Nations League or to reach your 1,000th career goal? And do you hope to score your 1,000th goal for Portugal?

First, I don't think I've ever spoken in front of so many people at once. So many curious people here. But that's fine, it's a challenge. To answer your question: I want to achieve both goals. I want to reach 1,000 goals, and I also want to fight to win this Nations League with my national team. The match starts tomorrow, and this is a new era. That's not to say we didn't perform well in the past. I want to use this opportunity to thank coach Martinez and congratulate him on the excellent work he's done with the national team. He came from another country, which is sometimes very difficult, especially when you're constantly under attack. But I don't want to dwell on that too much.

Now, coach Jorge Jesus is leading us into a new era. We all know him well. I hope everything goes smoothly, because if he succeeds, we all—all of Portugal—will benefit. I'm confident he'll do an excellent job. We're ready. We have four matches in the next 15 days, which will be challenging. But we have a strong squad with many talented players, and we'll be prepared.

I'd like to ask you, at this stage of your career, given your previous experience working with Jorge Jesus in Saudi Arabia, and setting aside what happened in the past, do you feel he's the right coach? Does he understand you and can he continue to bring out your best in these final years of your career? Thank you.

I'm absolutely confident he can. Given Jorge Jesus's qualities—which we all know and understand—I think choosing him was the perfect decision. The past is the past. I repeat, this is a new era now, with a different atmosphere, different ideas, different tactics, and a different language. So my greatest hope is that everything goes well.

The coach has repeatedly mentioned that many players here have worked with him before. As the coach said, this will make the work easier. So we're all very confident and hopeful that everything will go smoothly. Tomorrow we face a strong team, and I'm confident the squad is fully prepared. However, it will be a long challenge. The coach will be here for years. I wish him all the best and am convinced his appointment was the best choice.

I've been fortunate to cover every European Championship and World Cup you've participated in. Whenever people talk about a European Championship or World Cup, certain things always stand out in their memory. If someone asked me one day what impression this World Cup left on me, I would say it was seeing the affection that everyone showed you. It was incredible; I've never seen anything like it before. How do you feel about the criticism some people in Portugal have directed at you? Every time we lose, every time something goes wrong, some people blame you.

I can't say exactly what's on my mind 100% of the time; sometimes I have to be more diplomatic. I've discussed what you mention many times at home with friends. I've been playing football for many years, and I've been welcomed almost everywhere I go. Of course, in some places, the atmosphere might be a bit more hostile because I was playing for Real Madrid, Manchester United, or Juventus at the time—that's normal. But I'm talking about the national team now. This might be the year I've felt the greatest love, that's true.

I'm not saying I didn't feel it in Portugal. I also feel that the Portuguese people love me and have special affection for me. On the other hand, I know, and I'm very aware, that some media outlets like to attack me and have tried to "take me down" for years. They've literally pointed guns at me, but even then, I've managed to dodge the bullets—just imagine. But I'm used to it now.

Nuno, I've been through this for over twenty years; I'm used to it now. What truly stays with me is the people who love me, not those who don't. What I can control, I control; what I can't control, there's nothing I can do. I always focus on the people who love me.

The stadiums where I play, including the one in Porto, there might be some hostility because I played for Sporting CP and grew up there. As for the Benfica stadium, I don't think we play there anymore. At least that's what I read; I'm not sure if it's true. I hope to play there again in the future, because the national team also plays well at the Benfica stadium. I feel the deep affection the Portuguese people have for me. Just because some people don't like me doesn't mean I don't feel the love from the Portuguese people. I feel that love very strongly.

I'd like to ask about Jorge Jesus, because you've repeatedly emphasized that you know him well. I want to ask you directly: are you confident he can lead Portugal's national team to win the World Cup or another European Championship? Also, a more personal question—I'm not sure if you're willing to reveal when your last match will be.

Just one question, Madalena.

Alright.

You understand, right? There are many journalists here. Please pick one question.

Pick one?

Some journalists have already missed their chance to ask. Pick one—whichever you'd like.

Then the second one. But I think you probably won't answer the question about ending your career. Can you tell us something?

I won't answer, you know why?

Why?

Because I don't know.

So will you tell the Portuguese people before the match starts, or will you suddenly tell them after the match: "I'm leaving"?

I'd love to answer, but I can't, because I don't know. One thing I learned after turning thirty is: live in the present, don't think about tomorrow. I've lived that way since then. So I don't know. If you ask me "is it possible," yes, it's possible; "is it very likely," yes. But "will it happen," I don't know.

But will you tell the Portuguese people first? Will you say it before the match?

Why only the Portuguese people? I'll tell the whole world. My goals don't belong only to the Portuguese people.

That's true.

I'll say it, yes, I'll tell everyone.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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