Cristiano Ronaldo is remaining elusive about his international future, even to his Portugal teammate Diogo Jota. At 39 years old, Ronaldo logged 486 minutes at Euro 2024—more than any other player in Roberto Martinez’s squad—but did not score during the tournament, which ended in a quarter-final loss to France. Having earned 212 caps and scored 130 goals for his country, there is uncertainty about whether he will appear in another major tournament.
The next World Cup is two years away, and Ronaldo will be 41 by then. However, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has demonstrated no signs of slowing down at the club level with Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr. His impressive performance, including 50 goals last season, secured him a significant role in another European Championship. Despite this, there has been some criticism regarding the extent of trust placed in this all-time great player.
Jota, who saw his playing time limited by Ronaldo to just 97 minutes, discussed his experience of being in Ronaldo’s shadow and the possibility of Ronaldo making another appearance on a major international stage with the Liverpool Echo: “I don’t have much to add about that. I believe we could have progressed further, but we were eliminated in the quarter-finals. I’m always prepared to support my country, and it’s frustrating when you feel you could have made a difference but weren’t needed.
“I’m unsure whether the Euros will be Ronaldo’s final international tournament. I don’t know what he’s said about it. However, he has been an inspiration to me for as long as I can remember. He’s a legend and has won the Ballon d’Or multiple times. He’s been a role model for me, and I was fortunate to share a dressing room with him and learn from him. I’m grateful for that experience.”
The focus is now shifting back to domestic matters, with Jota rejoining Liverpool under new head coach Arne Slot. Ronaldo has yet to return to Al-Nassr but still has a year remaining on his lucrative contract in the Middle East.