CR7 before Portugal-Spain at the World Cup: "This will be my last World Cup, this is when I'll retire."

Cristiano Ronaldo starts from the future, but only to try to close the discussion. On the eve of the World Cup round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain, CR7 answered questions in a press conference about his possible retirement and the possibility that this could be his last World Cup. "I'll stop when I decide, not when you want me to," said the Portuguese captain. He then added: "You always ask the same question. I don't want to draw attention to this, because it's less important than the match against Spain."

Regarding his performance and the criticism of his starting spot, he responded: "I'm not the player I once was, but I'm not that bad: I've scored three goals. What I've done throughout my career is continually adapt to changing times." He continued: "Playing or not, I will always have an important role in this national team. The last World Cup? Yes, but the most important thing now is tomorrow's match; let's hope it's not the last."

"You've been trying to kill me for the last 23 years."

Then the tone shifted to his relationship with the media. "People have been criticizing me for 23 years, but they know they're wasting their time. I'm used to it," Ronaldo explained. Then came the harshest line: "You've been trying to kill me for the last 23 years, but you must have realized it wasn't worth it, that it was a waste of time. Yet you kept trying again and again." When asked about the hardest part of playing in a World Cup at 41, he replied: "Talking to you. Especially some of you. I remember some of your faces very well."

CR7 also said he learned from the criticism: "I even say thank you for the attacks I faced after turning 40. Criticism is what makes you grow the most, so thank you to you journalists: you made me grow even more." And on the weight of a possible elimination: "Regardless of what happens tomorrow, I'll leave here with a clear conscience. I played for the national team and for my clubs out of passion. May God's will happen. I have to enjoy every day and every match."

"I'll be no more or less Ronaldo if I win the World Cup."

The World Cup remains the only major trophy missing from his career, but Ronaldo doesn't want to turn it into a definitive judgment on himself: "I'll be no more or less Cristiano Ronaldo whether I win the World Cup or not. Age gives you maturity, experience, and the ability to appreciate the relativity of things." Then he referred to his personal moment: "This World Cup was very much marked by passion. What I'll take home with me is the affection the people have shown towards the national team and towards me."