Sochi: Cristiano Ronaldo declined to comment on his international future on Saturday after bowing out of the World Cup following Portugal’s 2-1 defeat by Uruguay.
The Real Madrid star exited his fourth World Cup in disappointment after two goals from Edinson Cavani saw the Uruguayans advance to the last eight.
However Ronaldo, who will be 37 by the time of the next World Cup, would not be drawn on whether he planned to extend his international career.
“Now is not the time to talk about the future of players and coaches,” Ronaldo said.
The 33-year-old did, however, say that European champions Portugal could look forward to the future with confidence.
“We have a fantastic group, young and with a lot of ambition and for that reason I think the team will remain strong,” he said.
Ronaldo finished his World Cup campaign with four goals, one adrift of England’s Harry Kane who leads the standings with five.
Earlier, Portugal coach Fernando Santos said he hoped Ronaldo would remain part of the international set-up.
“Cristiano still has a lot to give to football and I hope he will stay to help the young players grow and develop,” he said.
“We have a team with many young players and of course we all want him there with us.”
Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t carry the team by himself this time.
Portugal won the 2016 European Championship and came to Russia with high expectations following the surprise title in France two years ago, its first in a major tournament. Ronaldo started off this year’s tournament with a hat trick against Spain and then added another goal against Morocco.
But on Saturday, it was Edinson Cavani who scored twice to earn victory for the Uruguayans.
“No team can win with one player alone,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said. “He tried. The team didn’t win because Uruguay scored twice.”
Portugal hasn’t reached the World Cup quarter-finals since 2006, when a young Ronaldo led the team to the semi-finals. Back then, Portugal lost to France and eventually finished fourth after losing to Germany in the consolation game.
Ronaldo, now 33 and still playing some of the best football of his life, failed to provide the spark Portugal needed against Uruguay.
Ronaldo’s great start in Russia allowed him to surpass the combined total of three goals he had scored in his previous three World Cups. He also joined Pele, Miroslav Klose and Uwe Seeler as the only players to score in four World Cups.
The four early goals in this year’s tournament had put him in position to contend for the “Golden Boot” trophy, but he was surpassed by England striker Harry Kane’s five goals in the group stage.
Despite his fast start in Russia, Ronaldo missed a penalty in the 1-1 draw against Iran in the third game. He also was nearly given a red card when his elbowing of an opponent was reviewed on video.
Before the World Cup, Ronaldo led Real Madrid to its third straight Champions League title, but he arrived in Russia surrounded by distractions about his club future and a tax fraud accusation back in Madrid.
