Portugal and Al-Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that Euro 2024 will "without a doubt" be his final appearance at the European Championships after Monday's nerve-jangling last-16 success over Slovenia.
From an individual perspective, the Euros have not gone at all to plan for the erstwhile Real Madrid and Manchester United man, who is still waiting to score his first goal at the current tournament.
Ronaldo had scored in the group stage in each of his first five Euros appearances before going scoreless against Turkey, Georgia and the Czech Republic this time around, and his agony was prolonged on Monday night.
After a handful of chances passed him by in normal time, Ronaldo had an extra-time penalty kept out by the spirited Jan Oblak, triggering waterworks from the overly emotional Portugal skipper as his teammates did their utmost to pick him back up.
Ronaldo has now attempted 20 shots at the Euros without scoring, the fifth-most in the history of the men's competition and only four behind the unwanted record held by compatriot Deco from Euro 2004.
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Ronaldo's Euros swansong saved by Diogo Costa heroics
The 39-year-old's evening would end with a slice of redemption, as he took and scored Portugal's first penalty in the shootout, where Selecao goalkeeper Diogo Costa wrote his hero arc by saving all three Slovenian spot kicks.
Had the Porto goalkeeper not made history from 12 yards - becoming the first man to save three penalties in a Euros shootout - Ronaldo would have been condemned to a gut-wrenching farewell in his record-breaking sixth competition, as he confirmed after the match.
"It is without a doubt my last European Championship," the striker told the press. "But I don't get emotional about that, I get emotional about everything that football involves.
"Because of the enthusiasm I have for the game, the enthusiasm of seeing my supporters, my family, the affection that people have for me. It's not about leaving football, because if I do, what else would I need to do or win? It won't be about getting one more point or one less point. Making people happy is what motivates me the most."
Despite his frequent failures to make the net bulge at Euro 2024, Ronaldo will be expected to reprise his role in attack when Portugal meet Kylian Mbappe's France in Friday's tantalising quarter-final.
How long might Ronaldo keep playing for?
Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty was SAVED 😲#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #PORSVN pic.twitter.com/1qAM6RUoBW
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 1, 2024
To hear Ronaldo openly admit that he will not be sticking around for Euro 2028 was no real surprise, as he will have turned 43 by the time that tournament takes place, albeit only two years more senior than current teammate Pepe.
However, with a staggering 57 goals contributions - 44 of his own and 13 assists - in 45 appearances for Al-Nassr last season, there is still plenty of life left in the attacker's legs, and he has no intention to hang up his club boots just yet.
Ronaldo still has a year left to run on his Al-Nassr contract and will almost certainly keep playing into his 40s - barring a career-ending injury - and he is being tipped to represent Portugal at the 2026 World Cup.
It would not be a shock to see the 39-year-old call time on his club and international at that tournament in two years' time, prior to which an Al-Nassr contract extension should be in the pipeline if he does decide that 2026 is to be his swansong year.
Ben Knapton
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