Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed speculation that he was considering retiring from international football in the near future, adding that he was not worried about the criticism following the European Championships.

Ronaldo led Portugal to the 2024 European Championship, where his country was eliminated in the quarter-finals after losing to France.

“It’s all from the press. It never occurred to me that my cycle (with Portugal) was over. On the contrary, it motivated me even more to continue to be honest,” Ronaldo said at a press conference on Monday.

“The motivation is to get to the national team to win the Nations League… We’ve won it before and we want to do it again. I could say that over and over again. But I don’t think long-term; it’s always short-term.”

Portugal hosts Croatia in their Nations League opener on Thursday before welcoming Scotland in League A Group One on Sunday.

Ronaldo captained Portugal to victory in the inaugural edition of the 2018/19 Nations League, three years after the team won its first European championship in France.

“Until the end of my career I will always have the attitude that I will be a starter,” Ronaldo added.

“What I feel at the moment, and the words of the coach (Roberto Martinez) show this, is that I continue to be an asset to the national team and I will be the first (to admit this) if that is not the case.”

“When the time comes, I will move on. The decision will not be difficult for me,” said the 39-year-old.

“When I feel like I no longer have anything to contribute, I’ll be the first to leave,” he added, citing as an example his former teammate Pepe, “who walked out the front door” after announcing his retirement from football last August at the age of 41.

“But as always, I will leave with a clear conscience because I know who I am, what I can do, what I do and what I will continue to do.”

The former Real Madrid player received a special award from UEFA on Thursday in recognition of his record-breaking performances at the elite event.

Ronaldo is the Champions League’s all-time top scorer with 140 goals in 183 appearances for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. He has been top scorer in seven seasons, including a record 17 goals in 2013/14, and is the only player to have scored in three finals.

It is an honor for me to receive this award from @ChampionsLeague for being the competition’s all-time top scorer. I’m grateful for all the support along the way! Thank you! pic.twitter.com/2FqexL3cIr

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) 29 August 2024

The criticism he received for his lack of goals at the 2024 European Championship apparently did not bother the star striker.

“Criticism is great because if there is no criticism there is no progress. That’s how it’s always been. Will that change now? It won’t,” Ronaldo said.

“That’s why I try to go my own way, to be as professional as possible, to help as best as I can with my professionalism and not just with goals, assists, discipline and being a role model, because football is much more than just playing well or scoring a goal.”

“The people who express their opinions have never been in a dressing room and I often laugh because it’s the same as talking about Formula 1.

“How can I express my opinion on Formula 1 when I have no idea about tires, rims or the weight of the car… That’s normal and that’s why criticism is good for me and part of it, it’s not a problem at all.”

Ronaldo had previously stated that he wanted to end his career at his current club Al Nassr – but probably not for another two or three years.

“I don’t know if I will retire soon, in two or three years, but I will probably retire here at Al Nassr,” Ronaldo told Portuguese broadcaster NOW in August.

Ronaldo has scored 130 international goals for Portugal in 212 appearances for the country, the most goals ever scored by a male player – a world record.