Portugal’s star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, at 39, remains one of the key players in a team that is looking to start a new cycle after a disappointing European Football Championship.
“Ronaldo is unique!” said coach Roberto Martinez when he unveiled the list of players selected to face Croatia and Scotland in the Nations League on Thursday and Sunday in Lisbon.
“To continue playing at your level at 39 is incredible,” said the Spanish coach, who wants to start a “new cycle” with the national team to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.
After the departure of defender Pepe, who announced his retirement from the sport last month at the age of 41, CR7 is now the veteran of the Seleçao, boasting an impressive record of 212 caps and 130 goals.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has been playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia for almost two years, nevertheless went through his 6th European Championship like a shadow, without scoring a single goal and losing in the quarter-finals against France (0-0 aet, 5 tabs to 3).
After his recent lackluster performances, his place as a starter in the team is not unanimous.
“The coach is talking about a new cycle and is keeping Cristiano Ronaldo in his options,” asked the sports daily A Bola on Sunday.
“New talents”
The player from the island of Madeira “does not seem to realise that he no longer has the qualities he had when he wore the colours of Manchester United, Real Madrid and even Juventus”, the newspaper continued.
Indifferent to the criticism, the captain of the Portugal team responds that he is not yet thinking about hanging up his boots.
“I feel like I’m useful to the national team” but when that’s no longer the case, “I’ll be the first to leave,” he told reporters on Monday.
While Ronaldo remains untouchable for the moment, Roberto Martinez is nevertheless preparing the succession, opening the door to new players for the Nations League matches, such as the young 17-year-old striker Geovany Quenda, playing for Sporting Portugal.
“It is very important to be attentive to new talents,” explained the coach, who has been observing him for several months and wants to see if he will be able to play at an international level.
The new players, who arrive with “the desire to give the best of themselves”, “can bring a lot” to the team, PSG midfielder Vitinha said on Tuesday.
For Ronaldo, his role is also to help the youngest to integrate and contribute to preparing for the future.
“I’m a bit like a big brother,” the captain of the Portuguese team likes to observe, recalling that football goes beyond performances on the field.
“I want to help the national team and my club, not only by scoring goals,” but also “by being an example” for others within the team, he added.
