“I cannot give more because age doesn’t allow it”
Cristiano Ronaldo has dropped a hint on when he could finally retire.
The Portuguese legend has enjoyed one of the greatest careers of all time, scoring over 900 goals, winning countless trophies and often being referred to as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
However, all good things must come to an end, and at the age of 39, Cristiano is no spring chicken, with many wondering when Ronaldo’s retirement will come.
Despite still banging in the goals for Al Nasr and Portugal, the former Man United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward has put a time frame on his eventual retirement.
Speaking with Rio Ferdinand on his new YouTube channel, Ronaldo – who turns 40 next February – spoke about what he will miss most from football as well as his future plans.
Rio asked what he would miss most from playing, to which Cristiano said:
“I think I’ll miss not having the adrenaline when I score a goal, or being nervous, I think I’ll miss that.
“Other parts, I have good control, I have people around me, I have a good business. I have good things, good income.
“But, I think the adrenaline from football is never going to exist more.”
Ronaldo explained that it is this feeling that is driving him to continue playing.
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He said: “This is why I’m going a little bit further in football because in your 40s you say ‘I give everything’.
“Forty, or forty-one or forty-two, it doesn’t matter, you say ‘I give my body for 25 years of football, I cannot give more because age doesn’t allow it.
“This is why I keep playing, you understand my longevity and this is why I take care of myself and keep working because I know for two or three more years, I can still produce something good.
“Let me think in the present.”
Cristiano opened up saying he might cry a little bit upon retiring.
He added: “I will miss it, of course I will miss it, probably I will be a little bit lost.
“But I have other things to worry about, it’s going to be another chapter of my life.”
If he does indeed intend to retire in two or three years, he will be either 41 or 42 years old which is incredible longevity for any player, let alone someone at the top like Ronaldo.
Only recently getting his 900th career goal during an international win against Croatia, the marksman will surely be targeting 1000 before hanging up the boots.
For now, fans will just have to enjoy him while they still have him.
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