Ronaldo, who turns 42 in February, confirmed he will line up for Portugal in Lisbon’s Jose Alvalade Stadium, with head coach Jorge Jesus confirming the five‑time Ballon d’Or winner will start the Nations League fixture against Wales on Thursday.
The veteran forward explained that he had briefly contemplated quitting after the World Cup but decided to stay, adding that he will retire only when he feels he can no longer contribute on the pitch: “I will finish when I feel like I’m not doing anything here,” he said.
The match has been billed by some commentators as a possible farewell for Ronaldo, who began his senior career at Sporting CP, the very stadium where the game will be played. A poll conducted by Portuguese daily A Bola even failed to place him in the starting XI, reflecting a mixed public mood despite his enduring popularity.
Ronaldo, now playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, has amassed 979 career goals and has spoken openly about his ambition to reach the 1,000‑goal milestone while wearing Portugal colours. He denied being “obsessed” with the figure but said scoring a thousand goals for the national team would be “the culmination of a beautiful story.”
His decision to continue adds experience to a relatively young Portuguese squad and could prove decisive in the Nations League campaign, where Portugal will look to secure a place in the finals while the captain mentors the next generation of talent.