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Cristiano Ronaldo tells Juventus fans: I'm not ready to retire, age is just a number

"I still feel good, sharp, thinking about the game, more mature," says Ronaldo, who has been nominated for a record sixth Ballon d'Or award

Cristiano Ronaldo
Image: Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed to carry on playing

Cristiano Ronaldo has reassured Juventus supporters and his legions of fans worldwide that at 34, he is not ready for retirement yet.

"Age is just a number. It does not mean that at 34, 35, 36, you are at the end of your career," Ronaldo said at a news conference ahead of Juventus' Champions League match against Lokomotiv Moscow on Tuesday.

"I can show that with my performances, how I play, the way I play, the way I still feel good, sharp, thinking about the game, more mature. This makes the difference."

Cristiano Ronaldo was among the goals as Juventus beat Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League earlier this month
Image: Ronaldo was among the goals as Juventus beat Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League earlier this month

Ronaldo, who is in the second season of a four-year deal at Juventus, had sparked concern among his fans when he said in an interview published a few weeks ago that he was starting to enjoy seeing himself "outside of football, so who knows what will happen in the next year or two?"

He recently scored his 700th goal as a professional while on international duty with Portugal and has been nominated for a record sixth Ballon d'Or award, which would break his tie of five with Lionel Messi.

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Ronaldo scored with a sublime chip for Portugal in their European Qualifier against Luxembourg earlier this month

But Ronaldo says he is more interested in winning a treble with Juventus.

"We want to win Serie A, we want to win the Cup, the Champions League," he said. "Juventus should think big... We are going to try to win all the trophies, we know it will be difficult, especially the league and the Champions League, but I think it is possible. Everything is possible.

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"In terms of individual [honours], I have nothing to say as this is individual. It is not the most important thing," Ronaldo added. "The most important is the collective awards. If you win the collective awards, you have more chance to win the individual awards... The Ballon d'Or is for me in second place."

Ronaldo has been nominated for a record sixth Ballon d'Or award
Image: Ronaldo has been nominated for a record sixth Ballon d'Or award

While retirement may not be on Ronaldo's mind yet, family time is a big part of his life.

"To win games, to score goals, to enjoy myself, to arrive home and see my kids happy and say, 'Congratulations daddy for scoring a goal.' That makes me happy," he said.

"This is my motivation to come to train, for the games, to entertain people and the fans with my passion."

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