Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Silence After Portugal’s Euro 2024 Exit, Remains Mute on Retirement

• Cristiano Ronaldo has voiced out after Portugal crashed out of the 2024 Euros in the quarter-final stage
• The Selecao were dumped out of the quadrennial tournament after losing 5-3 on penalty shootouts to France
• Meanwhile, the veteran forward's international future with the national team has dominated the headlines

Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken out following Portugal's elimination from the 2024 UEFA European Championship.

Despite achieving a chain of milestones at his sixth Euros, the 39-year-old couldn't lead the Selecao past France, who defeated them in Hamburg on Friday, July 5.

Ronaldo, whose role in the Portuguese set-up came under serious scrutiny, played all five games at this year's edition, including the last-eight tie against Les Bleus.

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Uncharacteristically, the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus ace failed to score throughout the tournament despite having more shots on target than any other player, per The Analyst.

Although he converted his spot-kick against France, Joao Felix's miss off the post resulted in a 5-3 defeat as Didier Deschamps' men progressed to the semi-finals.

Ronaldo breaks silence after Euros exit

Having already announced that this would be his last Euros, Ronaldo took to social media to address the Portuguese fans who stood by the team.

"We wanted more. We deserved more. For us. For each one of you. For Portugal," Ronaldo penned on X, as cited by Sports Brief.

The Al-Nassr forward also expressed gratitude for the support and the achievements they have reached so far, "We are grateful for everything you have given us and for everything we have achieved so far."

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Ronaldo, however, did not comment on his future with the national team, leaving the door open for a potential return until the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

"On and off the field, I am sure that this legacy will be honoured and will continue to be built. Together."

Portugal boss addresses Ronaldo's international future

In a related publication, Sports Brief reported that Portugal manager Roberto Martinez addressed the challenging question about Ronaldo's future with the national team after their Euro 2024 exit.

Amid increasing calls to exclude the veteran forward, Martinez faces the decision on Ronaldo's future role.

When asked about his plans for Ronaldo, the 50-year-old's response was notably non-committal.