Cristiano Ronaldo has been pictured working out alongside his Portugal team-mates after touching down in Lisbon ahead of their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Ronaldo was seen taking part in a stretching session and doing some light conditioning on the bike alongside his international team-mates on Monday evening.
Later this month, Portugal will play both Liechtenstein and Luxembourg as part of their route towards the European Championships.
Many thought Ronaldo would retire from international football after Portugal’s World Cup journey ended in disappointment.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been pictured working out alongside his Portugal team-mates
Ronaldo and the squad touched down in Lisbon ahead of their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers
Ronaldo was seen doing some light conditioning alongside his international team-mates
Ronaldo crashed out of what is expected to be his last World Cup when Portugal lost 1-0 to Morocco in the quarter-final of the tournament in Qatar.
Ronaldo came off the bench to replace Ruben Neves in the second half with Portugal trailing 1-0 after Youssef En-Nesyri’s opener. But, he failed to inspire a comeback.
Ronaldo also squandered a late chance after drilling a right-footed effort into goalkeeper Yassine Bounou’s hands, which was among a string of failed Portugal opportunities.
However, Ronaldo took to social media after the game to tell fans he was still ‘dedicated’ to representing his country.
He said: “Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career. Fortunately I won many titles of international dimension, including Portugal, but putting our country’s name on the highest foot in the World was my biggest dream.
He was seen taking part in a stretching session on Monday evening after arriving in Lisbon
He seemed to be in good spirits as he linked up with the team after their World Cup heartbreak
“I fought for it. I fought hard for this dream. In the five appearances I scored in World Cups over 16 years, always by the side of great players and supported by millions of Portuguese, I gave my all. Leave it all out on the field. I never turned my face to the fight and I never gave up on that dream.
“Sadly [on Saturday] the dream ended. It’s not worth reacting to heat. I just want you all to know that much has been said, much has been written, much has been speculated, but my dedication to Portugal hasn’t changed for a moment.
“I was always one fighting for the objective of all and I would never turn my back on my colleagues and my country. For now, there’s not much more to say. Thank you, Portugal. Thank you, Qatar. The dream was beautiful while it lasted… Now, it’s time to be a good advisor and allow each one to draw their own conclusions.”
However, he did stay silent on the departure of Portugal’s manager Fernando Santos following their dismal World Cup exit at the hands of Morocco.
Santos was axed following their 1-0 defeat by the African side to cap off a tension-filled tournament dominated by Ronaldo, who did not see eye-to-eye with his coach in Qatar.
Ronaldo’s relationship with Santos turned sour after the former boss he decided to drop him for the knockout games against Switzerland and Morocco.
Fuel was added to the fire when Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez hit out at Santos for making ‘the wrong decision’ for benching him.
Ronaldo’s international future was up in the air following Portugal’s exit from the World Cup
Ronaldo (right) endured a frosty relationship with former manager Fernando Santos (left)
PORTUGAL QUALIFIERS SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton), Rui Patricio (AS Roma).
Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Man United), Joao Cancelo (Bayern), Danilo Pereira and Nuno Mendes (PSG), Pepe (FC Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Diogo Leite (Union Berlin) and Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund).
Midfielders: Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton), Bernardo Silva (Man City), Bruno Fernandes (Man United), Joao Mario (Benfica), Otavio Monteiro (FC Porto) and Vitinha (PSG).
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Joao Felix (Chelsea), Rafael Leao (Milan) and Diogo Jota (Liverpool).
She wrote on Instagram: ‘Today your friend and coach decided wrong. That friend for whom you have so many words of admiration and respect.
‘The same one who, by getting you into the game, saw how everything changed, but it was too late. You cannot underestimate the best player in the world, his most powerful weapon.
‘Nor can you stick up for someone who doesn’t deserve it. Life teaches us lessons. Today we have not lost, we have learned.’
Therefore, Portugal’s Euro 2024 qualifiers will be the first games for Martinez since taking over the reigns.
Leave a Comment