Cristiano Ronaldo, the greatest player of his generation, has announced that he will make the transition away from professional football “soon.” Here’s what the 40-year-old forward said when he left the pitch at a recent, one-on-one public appearance on a television talk show in the United Kingdom. As he comes to terms with the end of his once-glorious career, Ronaldo consistently points to one lesson: plan for life after football. This idea had been brewing in his mind since his mid-20s.
Ronaldo made the move to Saudi Arabia to join the Riyadh-based club Al Nassr. His goal is to net a thousand goals before he retires. He is the all-time leading goalscorer in football history. Unsurprisingly, he’s been at the top of the club and worldwide leaderboard with this stunning total of 952 competitive goals so far. He now plays in the Saudi Pro League. As the top three goalscorers in the Golden Shoe, he is currently ranking third with eight goals in seven matches of this season.
In his honest and authentic talk, Ronaldo spoke to the challenges all athletes face when going from a sport they’ve played their entire lives into retirement.
“I think I will be prepared. It will be very, very difficult,” said Ronaldo during the interview.
Beyond just figuring out what life looks like for him after football, he’s determined to play a role in fixing the game of football itself. In discussing the performance of his team and their manager, Ruben Amorim, he stated, “They are not on a good path. It’s not only about the coach and players, in my opinion … He is doing his best. What are you going to do? Miracles are impossible.”
Ronaldo’s musings go beyond the scope of self-interest. He recognizes that every path has an end.
“But everything has a beginning and everything has an end. I’m going to have more time for myself, for my family, to raise my kids,” he expressed.
Ronaldo’s performances have only reinforced the splash he’s making on the Saudi Pro League. His reflections on retiring seem to suggest a major sea change coming down the pike. Undoubtedly, the football world will be watching closely to see what he pursues next. So too, on an international scale, is he as he rounds towards the end of a career-defining chapter.
