Cristiano Ronaldo, the football legend who has shattered records and dominated the pitch for years, now finds himself at a pivotal moment in his career as whispers of retirement grow louder. Yet, the true reason behind Ronaldo’s decision to delay hanging up his boots isn’t merely a desire to continue contributing to the sport. Instead, it’s driven by a heartfelt dream: to share the field with his son, Cristiano Jr., before he officially bids farewell to his illustrious career.
Euro 2024 proved to be a challenging tournament for Ronaldo, where he faced frustration on the field, failing to score a single goal and witnessing Portugal’s heartbreaking exit on penalties against France. The Al-Nassr star endured tough moments, including missing a crucial penalty against Slovenia, though he redeemed himself in the subsequent shootout. These struggles have fueled speculation that Ronaldo might be nearing the end of his playing days. However, his ultimate goal remains—to create a lasting memory by playing alongside his son before calling it a career.
Ronaldo was sad after being eliminated from Euro 2024 (Photo: Getty)
However, former Chelsea star Adrian Mutu has revealed the reason why Ronaldo has not given up on his football career. Speaking to iAM SPORT in Romania, as cited by the Daily Mail, Mutu shared that Ronaldo would love to have the chance to play with his son in an official match. “That was his real motivation. He wanted to play an official match with his boy and that’s why he didn’t give up,” Mutu said.
Cristiano Jr. is currently only 14 years old, but with his current rate of growth and talent, it is quite possible that he could compete with his father within the next three years at Al-Nassr. Mutu also added: “If I was in another team, like Real Madrid for example, it would be more difficult. But at Al-Nassr, playing together for half a year, I don’t think it will be a big deal. I can’t.”
Ronaldo wants to play with his son before he retires (Photo: Getty)
Ronaldo will have to watch the rest of Euro 2024 from afar and prepare for the 2024/25 season, with the aim of winning his first title with Al-Nassr. Ronaldo’s determination lies not only in continuing to play, but also in his burning desire to walk alongside his son on the pitch, a human and inspiring desire.
For Ronaldo, his love for football is not limited to titles or records, but is also the moment to live his infinite passion for the ball with his son.
