A legend returns to Dublin
In July 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo landed in Dublin as the most talked-about footballer in the world. Sixteen years later, and even as he begins to discuss retirement, little has changed. Back then, the Portuguese superstar came to make his Real Madrid debut in the unlikely setting of Shamrock Rovers’ Tallaght Stadium. On Thursday, just eight miles across the city at Aviva Stadium, he will chase another milestone — qualification for his sixth and final World Cup, set for North America next summer.
That debut in Real Madrid’s white shirt came months after his first of five Ballons d’Or. It has been eight years since his last, yet the shift from the Ronaldo-Messi era to younger stars like Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal has not extended beyond the pitch. His recent headline-grabbing interview with Piers Morgan, nine months after his 40th birthday, proved once again that no player attracts global attention like him.
The age of endless greatness
Ronaldo is not alone in defying sporting time. LeBron James, another teenage prodigy, continues to play at 40 and even shares the Los Angeles Lakers court with his son. Tennis icon Novak Djokovic, fresh from winning his 101st career title, has already set his sights on defending his Olympic crown at Los Angeles 2028 — when he will be 41.
Portuguese journalist Miguel L. Pereira believes Ronaldo’s story is now defined by how long he keeps going. “It defines him, defines his personality,” Pereira said. “He’s always been conscious of how people will remember him. Around the mid-2010s, he realised he couldn’t win the emotional comparison with Messi. So he focused on measurable things — trophies, goals, records. That’s why he’s still pushing forward.”
Chasing one last record
Already the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football and the Champions League, Ronaldo remains one of only six players to appear at five World Cups. There’s no official database for football’s ultimate goal tally, but with more than 950 goals to his name, he once told Rio Ferdinand that reaching 1,000 goals was his “most important” remaining ambition.
His remarkable longevity has bridged three generations of teammates. When he made his debut for Portugal against Kazakhstan in 2003, his captain was Fernando Couto — a man born when England still held the World Cup and The Beatles had yet to split. After winning Euro 2016 with peers of his own age, Ronaldo now leads a national team that includes players not even born when he first pulled on the Portugal shirt.
A master of reinvention
Two decades in international football have forced Ronaldo to adapt. The explosive winger of old has evolved into a classic number nine — a role rare in the modern, pressing game. This evolution creates both opportunities and tactical challenges for Portugal manager Roberto Martínez.
Former Manchester United teammate John O’Shea, now Ireland’s assistant coach, knows what to expect. “You must defend crosses and clear the box,” he said. Pereira added, “He doesn’t run much anymore. He’s a box striker in an era when they’ve almost vanished. He wouldn’t suit clubs like PSG or Bayern Munich today.”
For many younger players used to modern systems and high-tempo link-up play, Ronaldo’s old-school style can feel limiting. Yet despite Portugal’s Euro 2024 exit to France and doubts over his continued place, he has scored 13 more international goals since.
The story isn’t over yet
Gonçalo Ramos, seen by some as Ronaldo’s natural successor, struggles for minutes at Paris Saint-Germain, delaying any real handover. As Pereira puts it, “There are two sides to every story, but Ronaldo is still the main character.”
With a sixth World Cup looming, the only question left is how long this final act of a glittering career will last.
