Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo made strong statements during a press conference held today, Sunday, to discuss his country's upcoming match against Spain in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

Ronaldo sent decisive messages to the media, especially those who keep asking him about his retirement date, saying: "You've been trying to kill me media-wise for 23 years... but you've realized it's useless, it's just a waste of time, you keep trying again and again without success."

I will retire when I decide, not because of you.

He added: "I am completely used to this. Some people like me more, some like me less, and that's part of life. I also have my preferences. I will retire when I decide, not because of you... I will remain Cristiano Ronaldo even if I don't win the World Cup."

Ronaldo considered playing at age 41 a wonderful experience that requires a lot of sacrifices and adaptation to age-related changes, emphasizing that his scoring instinct hasn't changed.

Regarding the upcoming clash against Spain, Ronaldo expressed his hope to score against Spain, stressing that Portugal's interest comes first, saying: "If I don't score, I hope one of my teammates does so we can qualify."

Ronaldo confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his last World Cup appearance, after six historic editions he played with his national team shirt.