\n
<\/p>\n
OEIRAS, Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo walked into a packed room, claimed to be nervous, then did what he has done for more than two decades: taking center stage, swatting away critics and insisting the final whistle is not yet in sight.<\/p>\n
The 41-year-old Portugal captain, speaking on Wednesday at the Portugal Football Summit main stage before Thursday\u2019s UEFA Nations League match against Wales, said he still had plenty to offer his country as Jorge Jesus prepares for his first game as national team coach.<\/p>\n
Jesus replaced Roberto Martinez after Portugal\u2019s disappointing World Cup campaign ended in the round of 16 against eventual champions Spain.<\/p>\n
Ronaldo, now on 979 career goals \u2014 833 \u200cfor clubs and \u200c146 for Portugal \u2014 is 21 short of the 1,000-goal landmark he \u200chas \u2060openly targeted. Asked \u2060whether winning the Nations League or reaching four figures mattered more, he grinned and chose both.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne goal is to achieve both \u2013 reaching 1,000 goals and the national team trying to win this Nations League,\u201d Ronaldo said at the Portugal Football Summit at the Portuguese FA headquarters outside Lisbon.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a new era with manager Jorge Jesus, whom we all know well; I just hope things go well for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronaldo said reaching 1,000 in Portugal colors would be \u201cthe icing on the cake.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cScoring my 1,000th goal for the \u2060national team would be the culmination of something \u2013 a beautiful story,\u201d \u200che said. \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be the end of it, but it \u200cwould be a beautiful story.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronaldo insisted, however, that he was not consumed by the chase.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve already admitted that \u200cI want to get there, and I will get there,\u201d he said. \u201cAn obsession? No … The \u200crest is about enjoying it, enjoying every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
PRODUCTIVE TALKS<\/p>\n
Ronaldo acknowledged he had considered his international future after Portugal\u2019s World Cup exit, but said talks with the Portuguese FA and Jesus convinced him to continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey count on me. I still believe that I\u2019m able to help the national team,\u201d he said. \u201cThe most important point is \u200cto be able, inside the pitch, to score goals and help the team to win games.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the manager doesn\u2019t count on me, I \u2060can leave today \u2013 no \u2060problem at all… When I feel that I\u2019m not doing anything here, that I\u2019m not contributing on the pitch, not scoring goals, creating a bad atmosphere, or that they don\u2019t want me here, I\u2019ll be the first to pack my bags.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pressed on retirement, Ronaldo refused to draw a clear line under his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI learnt something from my late 30s onwards, which is to live in the moment, don\u2019t think about tomorrow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it possible? Yes. Highly likely? Yes. But will it happen? No, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronaldo also bristled at criticism, saying media outlets had been trying to \u201ckill\u201d him for years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not going to happen under any circumstances \u2013 not even with a shotgun,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd even so, I still manage to dodge the bullet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronaldo may be 21 goals from four figures and perhaps closer to the exit than he cares to admit, but for now he remains exactly where he likes to be: in Portugal\u2019s shirt, in front of the cameras, and dodging bullets with a smile.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n