CRISTIANO RONALDO has revealed he will retire from football “soon” – with plenty of chances to play padel on the horizon.
The sporting icon, who turns 41 in February, admits he will “cry” on the day he finally hangs up his boots after an incredible career, that currently stands at 23 years.
Ronaldo signed the most lucrative contract in sporting history when he agreed to a new £488,000-a-day mega deal with Al-Nassr in the summer.
His mega pay rise keeps him at Al-Nassr until 2027, the year he turns 42.
But when asked if he’s imagined life after football, Ronaldo told Piers Morgan Uncensored: “Yes”
Piers added: “Have you got in your head an age when that may happen?”
Ronaldo replied: “Soon. But I think I will be prepared. It will be tough, of course. Yes, I will probably cry.
“I’m an open person. It will be very, very difficult, yes.
“But Piers, I have prepared my future since the age of 25, 26, 27 years old, I prepare [for] my future. So I will be capable of supporting that pressure.”
Quizzed if anything could match his joy for football, Ronaldo added: “Nothing will be [able to] compare that the adrenaline that we have for football to score a goal.
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“But everything has a beginning, and everything has an end.
“I have other passions. I’m going to have more time for me, I’m going to have more time for my family to raise my kids.
“I want to follow Cristiano Junior because he’s at an age when kids do stupid things. I was the same. Mateo loves football as well.”
His eldest son Cristiano, who was born via surrogacy, broke into Portugal’s Under-16s last month, scoring his first goal at that level against Wales last weekend.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner proposed to long-term partner Georgina Rodriguez in August, with plans for the couple to marry after the World Cup next summer.
Ronaldo’s hobbies include watching UFC and, like most 35-50-year-old men in the UK right now, playing padel.
Ronaldo said: “I love playing padel with my closest friends. We are getting quite good.”
The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend also said he wanted to learn more about business, although ruled out becoming a full-time YouTuber.
Ronaldo, who has 77million subscribers on the video platform, added: “I want to do more fun things.”
The Portugal great previously told Rio Ferdinand’s podcast last year that he wanted to continue playing until he achieved at least 1,000 goals.
He needs 50 more goals to reach that milestone and is preparing his Last Dance chance to win the World Cup next summer.