Cristiano Ronaldo hits back at critics who 'tried to kill him' as legendary forward chases 1000-goal mark

Portugal guardant Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that helium gave superior information to retiring from planetary shot aft the 2026 World Cup, but helium is assured successful his determination to continue.

The 41-year-old has had an bonzer career, scoring 979 goals astatine nine and planetary level, including 146 strikes successful 233 caps for Portugal.

Ronaldo recovered it hard to marque his people astatine the 2026 World Cup, which led to speculation surrounding his future, but helium was named successful Jorge Jesus' archetypal Portugal squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches.

The Al-Nassr guardant has said that critics person 'tried to termination him' successful caller years, but helium remains committed to reaching 1000 goals.

"Yes, I did. Of course, I’m ever reasoning astir my decisions, my future, the contiguous also. I’m a thinker; you person to think. This is wherefore you spot maine present now, it means I volition continue," Ronaldo told reporters erstwhile asked whether helium considered stepping distant from planetary action.

Ronaldo considered Portugal status aft 2026 World Cup

“I had a speech with our president [Pedro Proenca], with our coach. I inactive judge that I’m capable to assistance the nationalist squad to scope what they want. I deliberation I tin springiness the nationalist squad my support, not lone done the goals, but besides extracurricular of football.

"There is simply a caller young generation, but for maine the basal constituent is to beryllium capable connected the transportation to people the goals and to assistance the squad triumph games.

“Whenever they accidental they don’t privation maine successful the nationalist team, I volition beryllium the archetypal 1 to go. When I deliberation I americium not adding thing to the team, oregon that I make an atmosphere, I volition beryllium the archetypal to go.

"I volition instrumentality my suitcase and leave. The Portuguese number connected me. That’s wherefore I’m inactive present … Just look astatine the numbers, I’m definite you tin marque immoderate calculations, I’m inactive doing well. The time they don’t number connected me, nary problemo, I volition leave. I volition ever beryllium the No 1 instrumentality of this federation.

“For maine the astir important happening is I cognize what I am. I cognize what I bash to beryllium here, I cognize what I person done to person the occurrence that I person had. I cognize wherefore young kids emotion Cristiano, due to the fact that they spot maine arsenic an example, and I volition proceed to bash that. Even erstwhile I americium retired … successful 10 years.

“I’m blessed with myself. It doesn’t substance if I play tomorrow, if I’m rested for the adjacent game, for maine the astir important happening is that I consciousness good. The radical astir me, they spot successful my work. Focus connected the radical who emotion Cristiano, not the radical who criticise me, truthful I americium a blessed person.

Legendary guardant Ronaldo vows to scope 1000-goal mark

"I cannot beryllium 100% honest, sometimes I person to beryllium politically correct. I bash recognize that immoderate TV channels similar to criticise me, they’ve tried to termination maine – with a shotgun – but I tin inactive determination distant from it. Anyway, I americium utilized to it. I person been doing this for much than 20 years, I’m rather utilized to it. What I tin control, I will. What I can’t, I won’t.

“It is ever a pleasance to play for the nationalist team, to deterioration the colours of Portugal. After truthful galore years, it is [still always] similar the archetypal time. I volition measurement connected to the transportation with passion, emotion. I anticipation we tin get disconnected connected the close foot. Because it’s astatine Sporting, it does consciousness a spot much special.

“It would beryllium the cherry connected the apical of the barroom to people my 1,000th extremity with the nationalist team. It would beryllium the culmination of a beauteous story.

"I said I wanted to scope that people and I volition scope that target. But I don’t person an obsession. If you are obsessed with something, you won’t get it … Just enjoy. Carpe diem, bask the day.”

Ronaldo, who has scored 3 times successful 7 appearances for Al-Nassr this season, is bidding to beryllium progressive erstwhile Portugal instrumentality connected Wales successful the UEFA Nations League connected Thursday.