'Legends' Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed in an interview with his own media that Euro 2024 will be his last European Championship.
Portuguese media RTP released an interview with Ronaldo on the 3rd (Korea time) immediately after the Euro 16 extension against Slovenia and the penalty shootout. Ronaldo went from hell to heaven in the round of 16 against Slovenia. In the 14th minute of extra time, he missed a decisive penalty chance and showed tears. In the penalty shootout, he bravely stepped up as the No. 1 kicker and broke through the goal. Diogo Costa, born in 1999, made three consecutive super saves and made crazy saves to advance to the quarterfinals. Portugal will face France in the quarterfinals at 4 a.m. on the 6th.
In a post-match interview, Ronaldo said "The beginning was sadness, the end was joy. That's soccer, it's an unexplained moment. He said. Ronaldo then said in an interview with his own media, "It is sometimes difficult to score a goal from a penalty kick. "I scored 200 goals in my career, but sometimes it's still difficult to decide whether to put right, left or center." "Portugal lost two penalty shootouts this year, but they won today. Fair result because we deserved to win." Ronaldo's mother also watched the game nervously from the stands. Ronaldo said "When I think of my family, I think of my mother, so I get emotional. "A special moment that cannot be expressed in words..." he said, expressing his love for his family.
Ahead of the quarterfinal match against France, Ronaldo expressed the confidence and mission of the Portuguese captain. "It will be a tough match against France, Germany and Spain, the favorites to win the tournament. After presupposing that there will be a war "But it will do well because the team is doing well and has a lot of energy. I will do my best in this uniform."
Ronaldo, who shed tears after missing a penalty in the first half of extra time, shook the net as Portugal's first kicker in a desperate penalty shootout, and showed a strong mentality, said "I've done this all my life, and I've played for the national team for 20 years. Missed the penalty but wanted to be the first to score in the shootout because I have to be responsible. I'm not afraid of head-on. Giving up is something I've never heard in my life."
When asked if he had more feelings after realizing that it could be the last euro, Ronaldo responded like this. "It is right that it is undoubtedly my last euro. But rather than being engulfed by emotion because of it, it becomes emotional because of everything: enthusiasm for the game, the fans, the teammates. The most important thing is my passion to still be here."
