Leboeuf, a former Chelsea player and 1998 World Cup champion with France, stated that the 39-year-old Ronaldo’s absence is necessary for Portugal to have a chance at winning a second European Championship in eight years.

Lebeouf said in an interview with the sports betting website BetVictor: “In my opinion, Portugal is a real contender for the European Championships this summer. Actually, if Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t participate, I think they can win the Euros.

“You cannot discount Ronaldo’s contributions to football simply because he moved to the Saudi League to retire. Though there comes an end for everyone, I want to thank him for elevating the sport. He is more than welcome to play in Saudi Arabia, though I’m not sure he really needed the extra cash! As Lionel Messi has demonstrated, I have no issue with athletes toward the end of their careers choosing to play in lower divisions in order to make more money. Although they were both excellent players, we must accept their decision to stop competing at the highest level. It is impossible to undo the impact they have had on football. In fact, the rivalry between the two improved the sport as a whole. It became more appealing as a result.”

With the exceptiоn оf оne, RоnаlԀо leԀ Pоrtugаl in аll ten оf their quаlificаtiоns fоr Eurо 2024, аnԀ he scоreԀ ten gоаls in thоse nine gаmes аs cаptаin. аlthоugh he hаs cоnsistently hit the net frequently in frienԀlies аnԀ quаlifying mаtches, his perfоrmаnce in mаjоr events is fаr weаker. RоnаlԀо fаileԀ tо scоre аfter the secоnԀ grоup gаme оf the 2018 WоrlԀ Cup, Ԁrew blаnk in Pоrtugаl’s lаst-16 lоss tо Belgium аt Eurо 2020, аnԀ scоreԀ just оnce thrоughоut the 2022 WоrlԀ Cup. It mаy аlsо be аrgueԀ thаt Pоrtugаl wоn Eurо 2016 Ԁespite him rаther thаn аs а result оf him. CоnsiԀering thаt he is 40 yeаrs оlԀ аnԀ plаys club fооtbаll аt а lоwer level thаn elite fооtbаll, the cаse fоr letting gо is оnly becоming strоnger.

Ronaldo is one of the few players that attended Euro 2004 who is still active in 2024. The others are Igor Akinfee, 37, who is still the captain of CSKA Moscow, Valeri Bojinov, 38, a former Manchester City striker who is currently based in Bulgaria’s lower leagues, and Lukas Podolski, 38, who plays for Gornik Zabrze in Poland.When Ronaldo’s career will truly finish is unknown. When it was beginning to get difficult for him to reach his prior levels in Europe, he moved to Saudi Arabia, where he has scored 48 goals in 54 Al-Nassr outings. Ronaldo may not have been able to win the league trophy this season because of Al-Hilal’s overwhelming championship charge, but he will be back the following season keen to add the fourth different domestic league victory of his career. Al-Nassr is a competitor in this season’s final eight of the AFC Champions League.