At 39 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo has been selected for Portugal’s 25-man squad for two crucial UEFA Nations League matches in September.
“Ronaldo is a unique talent,” said coach Roberto Martinez regarding the decision to include the veteran striker. “For a player of his age to maintain such exceptional form and physicality is remarkable. Our main focus is the team’s success and improving upon our performance from Euro 2024. Ronaldo is in superb shape and plays a vital role for us, but discussions about the future are not the priority right now.”
Coach Martinez encouraged Ronaldo after Portugal defeated Slovenia 3-0 in a penalty shootout in the round of 16 of Euro 2024. Photo: Reuters
Ronaldo ‘s future has been thrown into doubt after a lacklustre performance at Euro 2024. He captained the side, started five games, including four full matches, and had 23 shots – more than anyone else at the tournament – but failed to score. It was the first time the Portuguese star, who has played in six Euros and five World Cups, has failed to score at a major international tournament.
After Euro 2024, Martinez stressed that Portugal were starting a “new cycle” towards the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. He also said it was too early to say whether Ronaldo had played his last international game.
Ronaldo has been in fine form this season, scoring four goals and assisting two in four games for Al Nassr in all competitions. The 39-year-old forward has also been awarded a tribute as the top scorer in Champions League history – 140 goals in 183 games – at a UEFA ceremony on August 29.
In an interview with Portuguese TV channel NOW earlier this week, Ronaldo affirmed that he still wants to contribute to the Portuguese national team and wants to participate in UEFA Nations League matches. “I will not inform anyone when I retire from the national team. It will be spontaneous, spontaneous, but it is also a decision that I will consider carefully,” he expressed.
Portugal will face Croatia on September 5 and Scotland on September 8 in the first two matches of the Nations League group stage. Ronaldo and his teammates have won this tournament before, when they beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the 2019 final thanks to Goncalo Guedes.
List of Portuguese team to gather in September 2024:
Title: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves), Rui Silva (Real Betis).
Players: Ruben Dias (Man City), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Renato Veiga (Chelsea), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Tiago Santos (Lille), Diogo Dalot (Man Utd), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Nelson Semedo (Wolves).
Other: Joao Palhinha (Bayern Munich), Joao Neves, Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd), Bernardo Silva (Man City), Ruben Neves (Al Hilal), Joao Felix (Chelsea), Francisco Trincao (Sporting), Pedro Goncalves (Sporting).
Other: Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Geovany Quenda (Sporting), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Diogo Jota (Liverpool).
