Ronaldo: Maybe I'll retire next year, or I could play into my 40s

Cristiano Ronaldo is uncertain when he will stop playing, but the Juventus star said it could be as soon as next year.

Published : Aug 21, 2019 08:57 IST

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to make history and is motivated by setting records.
Cristiano Ronaldo wants to make history and is motivated by setting records.
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Cristiano Ronaldo wants to make history and is motivated by setting records.

Juventus and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo remains unsure when he will retire, saying it could be as soon as next year or he could play into his 40s.

Ronaldo, 34, has continued to star after joining Juve last year, scoring 28 goals in 43 games in all competitions and helping the Italian giant win another Serie A title in 2018-19.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is uncertain when he will stop playing, although the star forward said it may not be far away.

"I don't think about that," Ronaldo told TVI on Tuesday. "Maybe I can leave my career next year … but I can also play up to 40 or 41. I don't know. What I always say is to enjoy the moment. The gift is excellent and I have to continue to enjoy it."

READ | Cristiano Ronaldo is still the world's best player, says Nani

Along with numerous individual honours, Ronaldo has won a record five Champions League titles (four with Real Madrid and one with Manchester United), three Premier League crowns and two LaLiga trophies.

Ronaldo wants to make history and is seemingly motivated by setting records.

"Are there any soccer players who have more records than me?" he asked. "I don't think there are any footballers who have more records than me."

Ronaldo's Juventus begins its Serie A campaign with a trip to Parma on Saturday.

'Could have been worth €300m'

Ronaldo also believes that a 25-year-old version of himself would be worth up to €300 million in today's transfer market.

Juventus splashed out €112 million, including add-ons, when it signed the Portugal captain from Real Madrid in 2018. Only five players – Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Joao Felix, Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho – have commanded larger fees.

Two members of the quintet made their mega-money moves as teenagers and Ronaldo, now 34, has reservations about the increasing prices for youngsters who are yet to prove themselves at the top level.

"Today there is a lot of focus on potential and the football industry is different," the superstar forward told Portuguese broadcaster TVI .

"I'll put the case of Joao Felix aside. Nowadays any player is worth €100 million, even without proof. There is more money in football.

"Central defenders and goalkeepers are worth €70 million, €80 million. I do not agree with it, but this is the world we live in. The market is like that, we have to respect it."

Ronaldo formerly held the all-time transfer fee record after Madrid forked out €94 million to prise him away from Manchester United in 2009.

Asked how much he would be worth aged 25 in modern terms, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner replied: "It is hard to calculate. If a goalkeeper is worth €75 million, a player who has done what I had must be worth three to four times more. Easy. But I have no such illusion."

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