Cristiano Ronaldo revealed in an interview that he will retire from professional football if Portugal wins the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Portuguese star said that he will “100%” hang up his boots if his national team lifts the trophy, with a “dream” scenario where he scores a hat-trick in a final against Argentina to beat his old rival Lionel Messi’s brace. Don’t miss today football match here!
“I want to finish [aged] 40. I think 40, will be a good age… But I don’t know, I don’t know the future. Sometimes you plan one thing for your life and as I told many times, the life is dynamic. And you never know what’s going to happen,” said the 37-year-old Ronaldo in an interview with Piers Morgan. Morgan then asked the “dream” scenario for which Ronaldo responded: “I will finish football, will retire. 100%.”
Ronaldo, who became the first player in history to reach 700 club goals when he scored for Manchester United against Everton last month, is only one goal short of becoming the first-ever player to score in 5 different World Cup tournaments after scoring in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 tournaments. He is also set to become only the fourth player to have played in five different World Cups.
In the same interview, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner hailed Messi as “an incredible player”, adding that Messi and France legend Zinedine Zidane are probably the best players in the world. “He is an incredible player [Messi]. Magic. We shared the stage for 16 years. Imagine… 16 years! So I have a great relationship with him.” Follow us to get accurate soccer predictions!
Earlier, Messi revealed that this edition of the World Cup will be his “last one”. This year’s edition of the World Cup is also Messi’s fifth appearance in the tournament since his international debut in 2005, where he won a total of 164 caps for Argentina and become the country’s all-time record scorer with 90 goals. “There’s some anxiety and nerves at the same time. It is the last one,” he said.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner recorded six goals and five assists from 19 World Cup games he appeared in. Argentina, who hasn’t lost in its last 35 games, will face Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland in Group C. Argentina last won the World Cup in 1986 exactly eight years after winning their maiden trophy in the tournament at the 1987 edition.
Exciting games and big wins as you visit 12BET where exclusive promotions await you.
Visit 12BET login and join us to claim exclusive benefits and more
