Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the current Euro Championship will be the last in his illustrious career.
The 39-year-old Portuguese star is taking part in the Euros for the sixth time in his career and has helped his country reach the quarter-finals. Portugal will face Kylian Mbappe and France in Hamburg on Friday.
In an interview with Portuguese channel RTP after Portugal's penalty shootout win over Slovenia on Monday, Ronaldo said: “This is, without a doubt, my last European Championship.”
“But that doesn’t make me sad,” he added. “I’ve been touched by everything that goes on in the world of football, my passion for the sport, my fans, my family, and the love people have for me.”
Ronaldo, one of the greatest goalscorers in football history, has scored a record 14 goals at the European Championship. He said his main source of motivation now was “making people happy”. He could not hold back tears after missing a penalty in stoppage time against Slovenia.
“It has nothing to do with leaving football,” he explained. “What more do I have to gain? This whole thing (my career) will not be limited to one point more or less.”
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