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Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Football, Manchester United
Ben McCrum
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Football, Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo called out Portuguese national players while accepting another award on Monday evening.
Ronaldo is undoubtedly the greatest Portuguese player of all time, scoring 133 goals in 213 appearances for his country and leading them as captain in several major tournaments.
Throughout his career, the 39-year-old has been honoured with some of the biggest individual achievements in the sport, including five Ballon d'Ors and three Best FIFA Men's Player awards.
And while he accepted yet another major award, the Portuguese captain called out some of his countrymen, admitting that he was disappointed in them for one specific reason.
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At the Quinas De Ouro gala in Lisbon on Monday, Ronaldo was awarded the Platinum Quinas, a trophy organised by the Portuguese Football Federation for being an ambassador of excellence for Portugal.
While accepting the award, the striker spoke about the privilege of playing for his country and how it frustrates him when Portuguese players don't strive to make the national team.
According to Portuguese outlet Record, he said: "When I joined the national team at 18, my dream was to win my first international cap. I've now reached 25, 50 and why not 100? And why not 150, 200? It's a huge sense of pride.
"Even after winning so many trophies, there's nothing better than playing for the national team, friends. That's why I'm disappointed with some players who don't want to represent Portugal.
"Enjoy the national team, it'll go by quickly."
Having scored 908 goals throughout his career for club and country, Ronaldo also spoke about his desire to reach a four figure goal tally.
"I now face my life as living in the moment. I can't think long term anymore. I said publicly that I wanted to reach 1000 goals, but it seems that now everything is easy, just last month I reached 900.
"It's about living in the moment, seeing how my legs will respond in the next few years. If I reach 1000 goals, that's fine, but if I don't, I'm already the player with the most goals in history.
"Portugal is a great country and we have to think like that. We have everything, we are an extraordinary country", added the striker.