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Cristiano Ronaldo Faces Possible Farewell: “I Live in the Present, But Retirement Is Near”
Veteran forward Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing for a final that could mark the end of a career full of achievements and titles. However, the Portuguese player prefers not to obsess over the future and focuses on enjoying the present moment.
“My philosophy has always been to live in the now, without thinking too much about what’s coming next. And so far, it’s worked well because I enjoy every moment. I won’t lie to you, I know time isn’t on my side. But as long as I can, I’ll keep going. Of course, there may come a day when I wake up and decide I don’t want to play anymore,” Cristiano confessed in a recent press conference.
Cristiano Talks About His Future and the Upcoming Final
Regarding the possibility of playing in the next FIFA Club World Cup, the forward clarified that, for now, he does not plan to participate. “I don’t want to talk about that right now. I’m focused on the national team and although there have been contacts, I won’t go to the tournament,” he stated firmly.
For the captain of Portugal, this final represents another chance to lift a trophy, an experience he knows well after years of dominating the most important competitions. “I’ve felt nostalgic about winning a trophy again, yes. But football has its cycles and you can’t always win. Tomorrow could be the last opportunity of the season. It will be a tough match, but everything is possible,” he added.
Furthermore, Cristiano Ronaldo spoke about his historic rivalry with Lionel Messi, with whom he has shared many great moments in world football. Although he acknowledged it would be difficult to be on the same team after so many seasons facing each other, he did not close the door on that possibility.
“I have a lot of affection for Messi and for Argentina — in fact, my partner is Argentine. I’ve received invitations to play in the Club World Cup with teams from there, I never say never,” he explained with a smile.
He also recalled the cordial relationship he had with the Argentine: “At first, he didn’t speak any English, and I helped translate for him at the Ballon d’Or ceremonies. I have a lot of respect and affection for him.”
Regarding the prestige of the Ballon d’Or, Cristiano said he believes it should be awarded to the best player in the Champions League, but that individual awards have lost some value recently due to a lack of consensus among the candidates.
For now, the Portuguese star is focused on the final at the Allianz Arena in Munich, where his national team will seek a new title to close another brilliant chapter in his career.