Cristiano Ronaldo 'urged to retire' by former Chelsea striker to avoid tarnishing his legacy

The 40-year-old feels he still has a lot to offer at the top level.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been urged to retire by a former player as he feels the 40-year-old is tarnishing his legacy and will only call it a day when his rival “Lionel Messi stops.”

The legendary forward Ronaldo is already forty years old but still is scoring goals for Al-Nassr. He is still capable enough for both club and country. He is now playing for Portugal in an attempt to help them win the UEFA Nations League.

It is anticipated that CR7 will continue to play until the 2026 World Cup, as he wants to score 1,000 career goals before thinking about retiring. He has been advised that he is no longer the player he once was and should leave. Maybe, once everlasting rival Lionel Messi announces that he will be hanging his record-breaking boots then Cristiano Ronaldo might consider doing the same.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the former Netherlands international and striker for Chelsea, expressed this view to Gambling Zone:

“Football doesn’t need Ronaldo at the 2026 World Cup. Ronaldo has been one of the best players for a long time; one of the best players in history. I think, at the moment, he’s doing himself more harm than good to be playing for Portugal still – it’s impacting his legacy.

“And if you ask me, Messi or Ronaldo, I will always say Ronaldo because of what he had to do to get to that level and to stay there.

Cristiano Ronaldo is in action for 🇵🇹 in his 23rd (!) straight year 😮‍💨🍷 pic.twitter.com/VALTh0URxG

— 433 (@433) March 20, 2025

“We all know as footballers, and I know this really, really well from my playing time, there’s a time when you come and there’s a time where you need to go. I think his time had come a while ago, and he needs to give somebody else the opportunity.

“There comes a time when you have to hang the boots up. I think that time will come when Messi stops. I think when Messi decides to call it a day, so will Ronaldo.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has amassed 218 caps for Portugal and has scored 135 goals in that time. He continues to have complete faith in his own abilities, constantly holds himself to the greatest standards, and sees no need to retire when he can still contribute positively to both domestic and international competition.

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