Portugal enters the UEFA Nations League opening fixture against Wales with manager Jorge Jesus confirming that 41-year-old captain Cristiano Ronaldo will feature in the starting lineup at Estádio José Alvalade. The upcoming match marks Ronaldo’s 234th international appearance, bringing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner closer to his stated milestone of 1,000 career goals as the national team embarks on a new competitive cycle.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Thursday’s kickoff at the home stadium of Ronaldo’s boyhood club, Sporting, Jesus emphasized the forward’s enduring stature within the squad. “He is a symbol of Portugal and the national team,” Jesus said of the Al Nassr forward, whose distinguished club career includes stints with Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Juventus.
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Ronaldo currently sits on 979 career goals. While the milestone remains a clear ambition, the veteran striker maintained that it is not a debilitating obsession. “I’ve already admitted that I want to achieve it, and I will achieve it. But it’s not an obsession. I never do anything out of obsession, because then things don’t turn out the way we want them to,” Ronaldo told the press conference.
“To score my 1,000th goal for the national team would be the culmination of a beautiful story,” Ronaldo added. “It would be a wonderful story, but it wouldn’t be its end.”
The fixture carries added significance following Portugal’s campaign at the recent World Cup, where the team exited in the round of 16 following a narrow 1-0 defeat against eventual tournament winners Spain. At 41 years old—with his 42nd birthday approaching in February—Ronaldo admitted he seriously weighed stepping away from international football after the tournament in North America.
“Yes, of course. I’m always thinking about my decisions, about the future and the present,” Ronaldo said. “I’m a reflective person. That’s why you see me here now. That means I’m going to continue.”
Discussions with the federation president and the coaching staff ultimately reinforced his commitment to the squad. “I had a conversation with our president and our coach. I still believe that I am capable of helping the national team achieve what it sets out to do, and I will stop when I feel that I no longer bring anything here,” he stated. “I can provide my support to the national team not only through goals, but also off the pitch.”
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Addressing persistent scrutiny from certain media outlets over his prolonged career, Ronaldo dismissed the external noise with characteristic defiance. “Here in Portugal is where I probably felt most loved. From the fans, I feel that the Portuguese like me,” he noted. Regarding critical television broadcasts and commentators, he added: “I understand that some TV channels like to criticize me. They want to kill me, but only a weapon can do that. And even then, I’d dodge the bullet.”
“Anyway, I’m used to it. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years, but my memories belong to the people who love me,” Ronaldo concluded.
Portugal’s packed Nations League schedule spans four fixtures across 16 days. Following the home match against Wales, the squad travels to face Norway and Denmark before hosting Norway for the return leg in the Iberian Peninsula.
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