Cristiano Ronaldo started his journey with the Portugal nationwide crew 20 years in the past, and since then, he has established himself because the nation’s best footballing legend, main his nation to its first main trophies. With the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on the horizon, Portugal has awarded Ronaldo a “Particular Recognition” for his extraordinary profession and contributions.
As gamers report for the October worldwide break, the 40-year-old ahead stays a key determine for Portugal. Aiming to maneuver nearer to World Cup qualification, the crew will face the Republic of Eire on Saturday and Hungary on Tuesday. Throughout preparations for these fixtures, Ronaldo acquired a prestigious honor from his nation.
On the Portugal Soccer Globes 2025 ceremony on Tuesday, October 7, Cristiano Ronaldo was offered with the Globe Status Award — a distinction celebrating greater than 20 years of excellence with the nationwide crew. The award acknowledges his unmatched longevity and affect as Portugal’s most iconic participant.
Taking to his social media accounts, Ronaldo expressed his gratitude: “Happy with this particular recognition. 22 years of the Nationwide Group and nonetheless with the identical ardour. Thanks to all of the coaches and teammates who helped me get right here. Thanks, Portugal!“
Ronaldo made his debut on August 20, 2003, in a pleasant in opposition to Kazakhstan, and has since made 223 appearances, scoring 141 objectives and recording 45 assists — each nationwide data. With three main trophies already received for Portugal, the veteran ahead is decided to finish his illustrious profession by lifting the one title that has eluded him: the World Cup.
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After turning 40 in February 2025, questions naturally arose about when Ronaldo may hold up his boots. At Al Nassr, he has already been rested for a number of matches within the 2025–26 season to handle his workload. With the 2026 World Cup simply 9 months away, nonetheless, Ronaldo seems targeted on one clear goal.
Throughout his acceptance speech, the Portugal captain spoke about his mindset: “I’ve a philosophy of residing day-to-day. No long-term plans. I take pleasure in every day and every coaching session… Our aim is to win the following two video games and qualify for the World Cup. What occurs on the World Cup, we’ll see.”
