On July 2, Portugal advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championship after defeating Slovenia in a penalty shootout with an aggregate score of 3-0. In a post-match interview, Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed that this would be his last appearance at the Euros and ruled out participating in the 2028 edition.
This marks Ronaldo’s sixth consecutive European Championship, during which he has scored a record 14 goals, making him the all-time leading scorer in the tournament’s history. With the next Euro scheduled for 2028, co-hosted by England and Ireland, many were wondering if the 43-year-old Portuguese star would make another appearance.
Ronaldo himself put an end to the speculation, stating that this is his final dance at the Euros: “Without a doubt, this will be my last time playing in the European Championship. Football still moves me, I still have passion for the game, and I feel the support from fans and the love from my family. I constantly ask myself what else I can achieve or win, and the joy I bring to people is a huge driving force behind why I continue to play.”