How Will Cristiano Ronaldo End His Career? Four Retirement Options For A Soccer Legend
Cristiano Ronaldo will likely never play for Manchester United again following his public trashing of the club and manager Erik ten Hag.
His destructive interview with Piers Morgan is expected to signal the end of his United career. But what about his playing career as a whole?
Ronaldo is a soccer icon. He has won the Ballon d'Or five times and is seen by many as the greatest player of all time.
Public perception is something Ronaldo clearly cares about.
How he chooses to spend the twilight years of his career will influence to an extent how he is remembered post retirement.
So as a 37-year-old - who will be 38 in February - what are Ronaldo's options?
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to wave goodbye to Manchester United in 2023
IMAGO/PA Images/Martin Rickett
Below, we look at four common routes travelled by superstar players towards the end of their careers.
1. Stop While On Top
As chosen by Zinedine Zidane
Real Madrid icon Zinedine Zidane opted to quit in 2006, two weeks after his 34th birthday. The last game of his career was the World Cup final.
Zidane scored in the game before being sent off for a head-butt. France lost on penalties but Zidane bowed out on the biggest stage, albeit rather disgracefully.
Ronaldo is arguably already much further past his peak than Zidane was when he retired, so this option may not be possible unless Portugal go all the way to the World Cup final in Qatar in December.
But if Portugal do win the World Cup that would surely provide Ronaldo with a golden opportunity to leave soccer with the ultimate mic drop.
2. Drift Down The Divisions
As chosen by Paul Merson
Some players just love playing so much that they are happy to continue in much less glamorous surroundings during the latter stages of their careers.
Paul Merson tasted domestic and European glory with Arsenal in the early 1990s, but he spent the final four seasons of his professional playing career in the second and third tiers of English soccer in the 2000s.
It is hard to picture Ronaldo playing for Portsmouth or Walsall though.
Paul Merson pictured (left) playing for Walsall in 2003
IMAGO/Allstar/Michael Mayhe
3. See The World
As chosen by Robbie Keane
Moving down the divisions is unlikely to appeal to Ronaldo, who needs to continue being seen as a winner.
But if playing at a lower standard is necessary, a sideways move to a top division in a less competitive country could be the way to go.
By moving to the best team in China, Saudi Arabia, or even the USA, Ronaldo could maintain his status as the main event and keep earning well, all while scoring bags of goals and winning silverware.
Many players have chosen this route, few with more success than Robbie Keane. The former Tottenham star left the Premier League for Los Angeles Galaxy aged 31 in 2011. He went on to score over 100 goals and win three MLS Cups with Galaxy. Keane later had a short but sweet spell in the Indian Super League.
4. Retire At Home
As chosen by Ronaldinho and Rivaldo
Like most people, soccer players feel very attached to the places where they grew up.
So it is natural that many of them opt to end their playing careers in familiar surroundings.
A large number of Brazilian superstars have spent the last of their playing days back in their homeland, including Ronaldinho and Rivaldo.
Ronaldo spent his early career at Sporting in Lisbon and his mother said earlier this year that she would love to see him play there again.
Speaking on a podcast, she said: "I already told him: 'Son, before I die I want to see you playing for Sporting again.
"It didn't happen this year but perhaps it will next year."
