Lisbon - Cristiano Ronaldo has ruled out any immediate thought of retirement from international football as he believes he still has plenty to give Portugal, he told a press conference on Monday.
"When the time comes, I'll move on. It won't be a difficult decision to make," the 39-year-old said ahead of Thursday's Nations League clash with Croatia in Lisbon.
"If I feel like I'm no longer contributing anything, I'll be the first to leave," he added, citing the example of his former team-mate Pepe, "who left through the front door" after announcing his retirement from the game last August at the age of 41.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has been playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia for almost two years now, failed to score as he appeared at a record sixth European Championship this year, with Portugal exiting in the quarter-finals.
Despite the criticism he received in the press, Ronaldo said he "never considered leaving the national team" and he has retained the backing of coach Roberto Martinez.
"People's expectations of the national team were too high," said Ronaldo, adding that the bad times in a footballer's life "allow you to evolve". After Thursday's meeting with Croatia, Portugal remains in Lisbon to face Scotland on Sunday. '
"Until the end of my career, I will always have the mindset that I will be a starter," Ronaldo added. "What I feel at the moment, and the coach's (Roberto Martinez) words also demonstrate this, is that I continue to be an asset to the national team and I will be the first (to admit it) if that isn't the case.
"When I'm (no longer) an asset I will be the first to leave. But I will go with a clear conscience, as always, because I know who I am, what I can do, what I do and what I will continue to do."
The 39-year-old appeared untroubled by the criticism he faced for failing to score at the 2024 European Championship. "Criticism is great because if it doesn't exist there's no progress.
It's always been like this. Is it going to change now? It won't," Ronaldo said. "So I try to follow my path, be as professional as possible, help in the best way possible with my professionalism and not just with goals, assists, discipline, and example, because football is much more than just playing well or scoring a goal.
"The people who give their opinions have never been in a locker room, and I often laugh because it's the same thing as me talking about Formula 1. "How can I give my opinion on Formula 1 if I don't know anything about tires, rims or the weight of the car ... It's normal and that's why for me criticism is good and part of it, it's no problem at all."
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