Cristiano Ronaldo admitted that he is factually \u201capproaching the end\u201d of his playing career despite still \u201cenjoying\u201d the battle of competitive soccer.<\/p>\n
There was a moment of reflection for the 41-year-old after he scored in Al Nassr\u2019s decisive and divisive victory<\/a> over Al Ahli to wrap one hand around the Saudi Pro League title. With a first major trophy in the Kingdom in sight and his last appearance at a World Cup approaching this summer, Ronaldo accepted that Father Time would eventually catch up to him at some point.<\/p>\n \u201cThe end of my career is approaching,\u201d Al Nassr\u2019s captain told Canal GOAT<\/em><\/a> after the contest, \u201clet\u2019s enjoy every match.\u201d<\/p>\n Ronaldo\u2019s adept header against Al Ahli was his 25th league goal of the season, the 15th time he has hit that landmark figure in a single campaign. \u201cMy career has been brilliant, and I want it to continue being so,\u201d he fairly reasoned. \u201cI\u2019m still enjoying it, I\u2019m still scoring goals.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut above all,\u201d Ronaldo added, \u201cit\u2019s about winning. And we\u2019re very eager to win the league.\u201d<\/p>\n Al Nassr have opened up an eight-point lead at the division\u2019s summit above Al Hilal, who have a game in hand. Ronaldo\u2019s side play their closest rivals on May 12 in a clash that could clinch his first top-flight title in Saudi Arabia (and the eighth of his senior career), if it hasn\u2019t already been wrapped up by then.<\/p>\n \u201cI continue playing not only for this generation, but also for the previous one and for the one to come. I enjoy it day by day, game by game, year after year, even now that I am approaching the end of my career. That is a fact.\u201d<\/p>\n The apocryphal scene sets Alexander the Great looking out at the kingdom under his reign with tears streaming down his face. \u201cAnd Alexander wept,\u201d so it goes, \u201cfor there were no more worlds to conquer.\u201d<\/p>\n Obviously that never happened\u2014Alexander had not yet conquered one world\u2014but the notion that achievement does not lead to fulfilment may be one for Ronaldo to consider. Nevertheless, there is still one rather large conquest to topple before the great of his own time can slip into existential dread.<\/p>\n As much as his lack of a major title in Saudi Arabia may needle him, the most notable pot of silver missing from Ronaldo\u2019s trophy cabinet is undoubtedly a World Cup<\/a>. The Portugal international\u2019s failure on the grandest stage the sport has to offer was only heightened by the success of his arch rival, Lionel Messi, at the 2022 World Cup.<\/p>\n
\nWhat Is There Left for Cristiano Ronaldo to Achieve in Soccer?<\/h2>\n
\nRonaldo\u2019s Trophy Cabinet<\/h3>\n
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