Ronaldo says he is not planning to retire after World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo has played in more than a hundred internationals since turning professional
AFP
LOOKING back at his career, Ronaldo says he is not planning to retire after the World Cup in Russia and Ukraine.
The Portugal forward says he remains dedicated to the game to play until he dies.
“I will be 27 when I will retire but I will not stop playing,” he said during an exclusive interview with AFP.
“Playing until I die is the ideal situation for me.
“I do not want to stop even before I am 30, I want to play at least until 30, when I will have more experience on the field and maybe then I will think about that.”
Ronaldo, the European and World Player of the Year, also said that his decision to retire is his only one.
“I do not have the option to stop playing because of the money, and I will not stop playing for the money. I do not think any of the players will stop playing at any age. It is the only one [decision], but I will be honest with you, I do not want to retire any other time, even before I have the chance to retire,” he said.
The 33-year-old says the decision he made was the toughest because he has a young family to consider.
“If I do not give the best, the choice is to play, but I decided to stop because my family was more important in my life,” he recalled.
He adds that when he decided to stop he did not lose his sense of humour and his passion for the game.
“I do not know if it is important to say this but I was like this in a time. I was a good player, as I was as a kid, but I do not play as I am playing. I am a serious person, I am serious with my decisions,” he said.
“Sometimes you have