END OF THE LINE? Portugal Boss Refutes Claims that Ronaldo Will Retire After France Defeat Yesterday

MUNICH, GERMANY- After Portugal's heart-wrenching defeat to France in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, manager Roberto Martinez has announced that no individual decisions have been made regarding the international futures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe. Both stalwarts have been integral to Portugal's campaign, with Ronaldo, 39, playing every minute of the nail-biting shootout victory over Slovenia in the last 16 and the subsequent penalty defeat to France.

Pepe, at 41, has etched his name in history as the oldest player to feature in the European Championship. The pair shared an emotional moment on the pitch after the loss, with Pepe in tears and Ronaldo consoling his long-time teammate.

"His tears are frustration," Martinez said. "Pepe is a role model in Portuguese football. What he did tonight and throughout the tournament will inspire future generations."

When questioned about whether the match against France marked the end of Ronaldo and Pepe's international careers, Martinez responded, "No. Everything is too raw. We are still suffering the defeat. There's no individual decisions at this point."

Ronaldo's performance at Euro 2024 has been under intense scrutiny. Despite his efforts, he failed to score in any of his five appearances, leading to questions about his place in the team. The tournament was particularly tough for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, who missed a crucial penalty in extra time against Slovenia, only to redeem himself in the shootout.

However, his frustration was palpable during the defeat by France, sparking doubts about his future with the national team. Former Portugal defender Jose Fonte commented, "They probably know it's the end of the line in the national team, perhaps. They've achieved so much, sometimes you just have to give your place to the young boys coming up and let them show their talent."

Ronaldo's stats at Euro 2024 paint a bleak picture. For the first time, he has failed to score at a major international tournament, making Euro 2024 his 11th. He hasn't scored in open play at a major tournament since the group stage of Euro 2021. With 23 shots in Portugal's five games, he has the highest number of attempts but has not found the back of the net. His expected goals across all games stand at 0.692.

Despite Ronaldo's struggles, Martinez has resisted the urge to bench the star player. BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton criticized Martinez, stating that the manager's "obsession" with Ronaldo shows a "lack of imagination." Sutton added, "Ronaldo is managing the team and Martinez isn't when you have options like they do on the bench - he is hampering them."

Danny Murphy echoed this sentiment, saying, "It does seem ridiculous at times that he keeps Ronaldo on when he is having no impact."

As Portugal grapples with their exit from Euro 2024, the futures of Ronaldo and Pepe remain uncertain. For now, Martinez and the team are focused on processing their defeat and looking ahead to the next chapter.