Talismanic Cristiano Ronaldo once admitted he wanted to retire from the national team after the FIFA World Cup 2022. Ronaldo didn’t have a great run for Selecao in the showpiece event in Qatar as he could only score a solitary goal for the team in five matches and could not provide any assists.
To add fuel to the fire, Ronaldo was dropped from the starting XI in the round of 16 and quarterfinal match by former Portugal’s head coach Fernando Santos as he preferred Goncalo Ramos.
Ronaldo has had a glittering career for Portugal, scoring 130 goals and providing 45 assists in 212 appearances for the national team.
Ronaldo said via the Goal in March 2023, “I’m not going to lie. In our life, we have to put everything on the scale. We thought, we reflected, me and my family, but then we came to the conclusion that, despite the difficulties, we cannot throw in the towel. I was able to see situations at different angles. I learned a lot from that.”
“I’m glad to be back. Roberto Martinez showed that he counted on me. I’ve always wanted to play. As you know, he talked to everyone and to me, too. And I was able to realise that I have a lot to give to the national team. I feel it, I want it, and my desire is to take Portugal to the highest level. I will always give my contribution when they need me.”
On the other hand, former Chelsea player John Obi Mikel was not happy that Ronaldo decided to play against Georgia in the recently concluded Euro 2024. Portugal had won their opening two matches against Turkiye and Czechia and thus the game versus Georgia was a dead rubber as they had already secured their place for the next round.
“A lot of people criticized Ronaldo about taking [all of the] free-kicks, about trying to do everything [on his own], trying to play every game. But I have said it a few times, the only place I criticize him in that tournament is [his decision] to play the game against Georgia. He did not need to play that game. You are 39 years old, take a break. Have a rest and refresh for the next game.”
Ronaldo could not deliver in Euro 2024 as he failed to find the back of the net and could only provide an assist. Portugal was knocked out by France in the quarterfinal clash.
