CRISTIANO RONALDO has hinted that retirement might be on the horizon after admitting “I haven’t got much time left”.
The Manchester United icon claimed he has changed his focus away from individual accolades after scoring the winner for Al-Nassr on Monday.
ReutersCristiano Ronaldo has implied that he’s edging closer to retirement[/caption]
GettyAfter scoring for Al-Nassr against Al-Rayyan on Monday[/caption]
Speaking after their 2-1 win, Ronaldo said: “I’m just enjoying playing football now as I know I don’t have much time left on the pitch.
“It is not important to me now to be the best player or to win awards.
“What is important to me now is to enjoy and help my team.”
The Portugal star dedicated his goal to his late father Jose Dinis Aveiro after scoring on what would have been his 71st birthday.
The five-time Ballon d’Or scored his 904th career goal – the first to achieve such a feat – and continues to play for Portugal.
Ronaldo‘s retirement hint comes just a month after he admitted that he realised his career was entering its final phase.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, Ronaldo said: “I’m going to miss the adrenaline of scoring a goal, and the feeling of being nervous.
“I think I’m going to miss that other part of me, but I can control that. I have good people around me, good business, I have good things.
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“I give everything, to 40, 41, it doesn’t matter. I give my body for 25 years of football and I cannot give more because age doesn’t allow it to go further.”
Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr contract expires next summer and it is unclear if the striker will pen a new deal or seek a move elsewhere.
Ronaldo is yet to win a Saudi Pro League title, having to settle for second best to Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, since his 2022 move from Man Utd.
The 39-year-old remains in outstanding shape and shows no signs of relenting as a player.
Monday’s notch, means he has now officially scored more goals in his 30s (441) than he did during his 20s (440).
His deadly left foot finish was his seventh in eight appearances this term.
Since leaving European football he has scored 65 times in 72 outings for Al-Nassr.
The Euro 2016 winner has represented the likes of Man Utd, Real Madrid and Juventus, amassing 33 major trophies in that time.