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.
Ronaldo has been selected to represent Portugal in the upcoming fixtures despite the uncertainty surrounding his international career.
Many thought Ronaldo would retire from international football after Portugal’s World Cup journey ended in disappointment.
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.
Ronaldo was visibly upset after the game. The camera’s captured the Portugal captain walking off in tears and many felt the emotion was tied to his retirement.
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.
“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.
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.
