WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo jokingly drops retirement date

Ronaldo won Best Middle-East Player and Fan's Favorite Player at the Globe Soccer ceremony in Dubai.

WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo jokingly drops retirement date

Cristiano Ronaldo joked about his retirement plans at the Globe Soccer Awards. (Image via Emirates Times and Daily Mail)

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo in an interview at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, jokingly remarked about his plans amid rumors of retirement. The player informed the media that he may retire soon, later clarifying it as a ‘joke’.

The former Real Madrid star, who turns 39 this February, is nearing the end of his career, and there have been persistent rumors that the player may retire after participating in the 2024 European Championship in Germany. He has featured for some of Europe’s biggest teams like Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United, attaining the status of one of the greatest footballers of all time.

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The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is currently playing for Al-Nassr, with a contract extending until 2025, following which the player may consider retiring.

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In a recent interview, Ronaldo humorously talked about his plans, initially hinting at retirement in his early forties. However, he later revised it as a joke, saying he’d play as long as he stays fit. He also joked about possibly playing for another ten years.

Ronaldo’s retirement plans remain uncertain, and there’s speculation about a potential return to Europe before his retirement. Former Al-Nassr manager Rudi Garcia in an interview back in 2023, hinted at a final stint in Europe for the Portuguese, possibly by the age of 40.

Ligue 1 fires back with a response to Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent Saudi league comparison

In a recent interview at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, Cristiano Ronaldo made a surprising claim by asserting that the emerging Saudi Pro League is more competitive than the French Ligue 1. His response generated a lot of controversy, which was replied to by the French league in a humorous manner.

Mbappe pulling Ronaldo's cheeks
Ligue 1 responded to Ronaldo’s statement by posting a picture of Mbappe pulling the player’s cheeks. (Image via X and Football 365)

Ligue 1 responded to Ronaldo’s claim by sharing an image on their social media platforms. The image featured PSG’s Kylian Mbappe grabbing Ronaldo’s cheeks during a friendly match between PSG and Al-Nassr in January 2023, which PSG won 5-4. The French league’s playful reply gained significant attention from fans.

Ronaldo’s remarks coincided with the declining appeal of the Saudi league as several notable players, including Jordan Henderson, Karim Benzema and Roberto Firmino expressed their intention to return to Europe. Henderson recently made a move to Ajax on an 18-month deal.

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