Ronaldo, who is 21 goals shy of reaching 1,000 career goals, has vowed to play on for his country. The 41-year-old has won 233 caps for Portugal and captained the team in the summer at the World Cup, where they exited to Spain in the last 16. In a recent interview, Ronaldo stated that he had considered walking away from international duty, but has since decided to continue playing.
Ronaldo's decision to stay on with Portugal has been welcomed by the team's new head coach, Jorge Jesus. Jesus, who managed Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, has launched a passionate defence of the 41-year-old, saying that he would start in his first game in charge, against Wales in the Nations League on Thursday. Ronaldo is set to return to José Alvalade Stadium, where he began his career with Sporting, before joining Manchester United in 2003. The stadium holds special meaning for Ronaldo, who is eager to score his 1,000th goal for the national team.