At the age of 40, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to proudly wear the colors of Portugal. Summoned for the Seleção gathering during this international break, the Al-Nassr striker once again responded, participating in his team's success against Ireland (1-0) on Saturday, as part of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Still at the top of their group, Roberto Martinez's squad seems well on their way to securing a ninth qualification for a World Cup final phase – the sixth for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Obviously, the question of post-Ronaldo begins to arise, a moment feared by many football lovers.
The touching tribute to Ronaldo
Asked about the subject in an interview given to beIN Sportshis former teammate in the selection and at Real Madrid, Pepe, did not hide his emotion. The recently retired central defender hopes to see his friend postpone the end of his international career as long as possible.
“When will he stop?” You never know (smile). Cristiano is constantly breaking records and I am very happy for him. Besides being a great player and a great person, he is a friend, and I hope he can continue playing for many years to come. I think it will be difficult for us fans when he decides to quit. It will be hard to turn on the TV without seeing Cristiano's name.”confided the man who hung up his crampons for good last August.
