Julius OkoriePortugal international and Al Nassr of Saudi forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, has promised Coach Roberto Martinez, maximum cooperation, as they attempt to post an impressive run in this year’s Euro championship.
Ronaldo who described his continuous representation of Portugal, at age 39, as a gift, vowed to “respect the decisions” of the coach in the course of the championship, which kicks off tomorrow, in Germany.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“The most important thing is that I am well physically and psychologically,” Ronaldo said, ahead of Portugal’s opening fixture against Czech Republic, next Tuesday.
“I am prepared, I always prepare in the best way, I am 100% professional. I will be ready as always to help our country and respect the coach’s decisions.”
Ronaldo has played 207 times for Portugal and scored 130 goals, both world records in men’s international football, and will begin competing at the sixth European Championship of his illustrious career, also a record, in the coming days.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has managed to prolong his career, by moving to Saudi Arabia, finding the net 50 times for Al Nassr, during 2023/24 – his best single season tally for eight years, since his peak at Real Madrid, albeit at a lower level.
Ronaldo has also scored 12 times in his last 11 games for Portugal, since the start of 2023, including ten, during Euro 2024 qualifying – one more than Kylian Mbappe, and two more than Harry Kane. But he had a disappointing World Cup in 2022, when his fractious second exit from Manchester United was still raw, not completing 90 minutes even once and then benched for the knockout rounds.
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Ronaldo, who turns 40 early next year, already has one European Championship medal in his collection, from 2016. But he is still dreaming about adding another.
“I know I don’t have many years of football left,” he explained. “It’s a gift to play year after year, after 35. I’m 39 and every year is about enjoying [myself]. To score for the national team is special. The national team is the love of my life, winning the Euros would be a dream.”
“For me, playing for the national team is a passion, a love,” he said. “Any game is special, a European Championship is special, it will be my sixth, which is also a record. Playing in 2004, when I made my [Euros] debut, or today, the feeling is always of pride and passion. It doesn’t get better than this.”
Ronaldo who joined Saudi Premier League side, Al Nassr, in 2023, has since scored 49 goals in 47 appearances for the side.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
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