Cristiano Ronaldo stole the spotlight at the Portugal Football Globes Gala, where he received the prestigious Prémio Prestígio award in recognition of his extraordinary career with the national team. The legendary forward, who has lifted both the European Championship and the Nations League with Portugal, delivered an emotional speech expressing his deep love and pride for representing his country.
Cristiano: “Portugal Is the Pinnacle”
“I’ve been with the national team for 22 years. That alone says a lot about the passion I have for wearing this shirt, for winning trophies, for playing for Portugal,” Ronaldo said.
“I often say, if I could, I’d play football only for the national team and not for any club, because that’s the pinnacle of what a footballer can achieve.”
Ronaldo Still Chasing Greatness
Despite being 40 years old and having scored over 900 career goals, Ronaldo insists he’s far from done.
“I still have the passion for this,” he explained. “My family tells me it’s time to stop, that I don’t need to score 1,000 goals since I’ve already scored over 900. But that’s not how I see it. I’m still helping my club and my country. So why stop now?”
Ronaldo added that when he eventually retires, he’ll do so with a full heart — knowing he gave everything to football.
No Long-Term Plans — Just One Day at a Time
When asked about his future goals, Ronaldo revealed a more mature outlook.
“To be honest, I don’t see it as an obsession anymore. If you’d asked me 20 years ago, maybe I would’ve said I wanted to conquer the world. But now, I live day by day. Things can change in an instant — you can’t plan too far ahead in this game.”
Focus on the 2026 World Cup
Ronaldo also touched on Portugal’s immediate goal — qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
“Our goal is to win the next two matches and secure our place at the World Cup,” he said. “It would be a dream, but one step at a time.”
Ronaldo Among Portugal Legends
The event also reunited Ronaldo with some of Portugal’s iconic footballers, including Pepe, Rui Patrício, Jorge Andrade, Beto, and Ricardo Quaresma.
“I see Rui, Pepe, Jorge Andrade, Beto, Quaresma… and I think, ‘I’m still here,’” Ronaldo joked. “They must be tired of seeing me at these ceremonies, but I still have a lot to give.”
Next Up for Ronaldo and Portugal
Ronaldo is expected to captain Portugal in their upcoming World Cup qualifying matches — first against Ireland, then against Hungary, as they aim to secure early qualification.
