‘It will happen in a year, two years’ – Ronaldo hints at retirement date

Cristiano Ronaldo says it will take one or two years before he retires from football as he wants to enjoy the end of his career.

The 39-year-old scored twice on Friday, including a stunning bicycle kick, as Portugal cruised past Poland 5-1 in the Nations League to take top spot in Group A1.

In total, Ronaldo has now scored 910 times in his career, 135 of them for Portugal, including five goals in five Nations League appearances this season.

However, Ronaldo has dropped hints in recent months that retirement is getting closer, with his 40th birthday in February, and he says his main goal is to enjoy playing football while he can.

“Planning the retirement from football… It will happen in a year, two years, I don't know,” Ronaldo said.

“I'll be honest: it's not a joke, it's enjoying the moment, the feeling that I enjoy football. Get up and go to training and to the match motivated.”

“If I don't feel that, I step forward and say, 'I can't do it anymore.' It's an excellent career, I haven't felt it yet.”

Invictos a caminho dos quartos! pic.twitter.com/qBz58DCXew

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) November 15, 2024

He was once again a standout for Portugal as he finished the match against Poland with a game-high 2.06 expected goals (xG) generated from five shots, the most of any player on the pitch.

Ronaldo reached the 900 goal mark in September, with many thinking he would score the next 1,000 goals as another goal in his storied career.

The forward has since scored 10 more goals, but insisted he was not actively thinking about reaching four figures.

“If you ask me if I want to reach a thousand goals… It's normal to want that. But I don't think about it,” he added.

“Think match by match. In three months I will be forty years old. It's about taking it easy and enjoying yourself.

“That's what I've done, especially in the national team, where I prefer to play. I love playing for the national team and I really enjoy coming here. Scoring goals and putting in good performances also helps.

“Every day. Enjoy goal after goal. Enjoy the moment. To be honest, the thousand goals don't matter to me at all.”