"Ronaldo will leave Portugal's national team after me"

FPF’s president Fernando Gomes predicted when Cristiano Ronaldo is going to retire from Portugal’s national team.

As football players reach a certain age, they often retire from their national teams. In fact, many do it years before they stop playing at a club-level. This was the case with Ibrahimovic, who stopped playing for Sweden in 2016. Additionally, stars like Buffon and Ozil also retired from international football despite still being active footballers.

Cristiano Ronaldo turned 36 this year, so it’s only natural that football fans would start wondering when he’ll retire. It is expected that his dreaded exit from football will also begin with a departure from Portugal’s national team. Although Ronaldo had previously said the 2022 World Cup would be his last tournament, Fernando Gomes thinks differently.

“He is 36, we are in 2021 and I will remain here only until 2024,” confessed the FPF president. “I think he will leave after me.”

🗓 | On This Day – 24th Feb 2001

🇵🇹 | Cristiano Ronaldo made his first international appearance for Portugal, as part of the U15 Seleção team that beat South Africa U15 2-1.

Cristiano scored Portugal’s second goal.

He was the only player to go on and play for the senior side. pic.twitter.com/ifL0Kx7o20
— Próxima Jornada (@ProximaJornada1) February 24, 2021

If Fernando Gomes’ remarks were to be accurate, this could mean that we’re bound to get a lot more Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal’s captain. Additionally, Gomes also spoke about Cris’ impact on his national team.

“He has had enormous importance in these ten years of presidency. Is CR7 one of the explanations for Portugal’s own success? I have no technical skills to evaluate its contribution, I just recognize that it has been high.

“What I can say with full confidence is that Cristiano, as captain for these ten years that I have been president of the federation, has been exceptional in the relationship with us. With the responsibility he has in the team as captain, he has been extremely correct, having a very fruitful dialogue with the managers. In this matter, it was a fundamental contribution.”