Ronaldo is playing "without a doubt the last European finals"

 Portugal's veteran star Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that Euro 2024, currently being played in Germany, will be the 39-year-old's last continental finals, as his side advanced to the quarter-finals on penalties after a goalless draw with Slovenia on Monday.

Ronaldo's record sixth appearance at a continental finals would have come to a bitter end had it not been for goalkeeper Diogo Kushta, who saved all three of the Slovenians' penalty kicks, especially after the Saudi Al-Nasr star missed one in the final minute of the first overtime.

But the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star's experience was on full display in the penalty shootout as he took the first kick and scored with confidence to book his country's place in the quarter-finals, where they will meet France in a repeat of the 2016 final, which they won 1-0 after extra time. Roosters fans.

After the game, in which he cried after missing the penalty kick, Ronaldo told Portuguese television "RTB" that it was "without a doubt the last European final (for him) for sure," adding, "The most important thing in this career that I have made is the enthusiasm that I still have." "It's there."

Ronaldo has so far failed to add to his records for goals in continental finals (14, nine behind France's Michel Platini) and international goals (130), which has left him frustrated at times, but "I will always give my best for this shirt. Whether I succeed (in scoring) or not, I will do that for the rest of my life.

He continued, "I've been doing this for 20 years. As you saw, I missed the penalty, but I wanted to score first (in the shootout). You have to take responsibility. You should not be afraid. I have never been afraid of these things. Sometimes I make mistakes, but surrender is not something you hear next to my name.

Ronaldo will be hoping to leave the continental finals with a new record if he finds the back of the net, as he will become the highest scorer in the history of the tournament, ahead of former Real Madrid teammate and Croatia's Luka Modric, who scored in the third round of the group stage to send Italy through (1-1). At 38 years and 289 days, he became the oldest goalscorer, ahead of Austrian striker Ivica Vastic, who scored at 38 years and 257 days in 2008.

But in Germany, Ronaldo faces a threat from fellow defender Pepe, who, at 41, has become the oldest player to play in the finals, surpassing Hungarian goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly, who was 40 years and 86 days old when he played against Belgium in the 2016 edition of the 16th European Championship.

To break the record, Ronaldo will have to break the jinx that has plagued him in his last eight European Championship and World Cup games, and he hopes to do so against France on Friday.

Commenting on the confrontation with Kylian Mbappe and his teammates, Ronaldo said: "We are now going to play a difficult match against France, which is a contender for the title along with Germany and Spain, but we are going to fight. We will fight to the end.