Seven reasons,
written to you.
You gave us everything. You owe us nothing.
But these are the seven reasons we still hope there may be one more.
You gave us more than goals. You gave us moments that became part of our lives. You gave us joy. You gave us heartbreak. You gave us hope.
You showed us what discipline looks like. What sacrifice looks like. What it means to return after defeat. What it means to keep going when the world believes your time has passed.
For more than twenty years, you gave us memories we will carry forever.
Because of that, you owe us nothing.
If you are tired, we will understand. If your heart tells you that the journey is complete, we will respect you. If you choose to stop, we will remain grateful.
But if there is still a part of you that wants to try one more time, we need you to know this: we still believe.
We are not asking for a promise. We are not asking for a guaranteed place. We are not asking you to ignore your body, your family, your happiness or the needs of Portugal.
We are only asking you not to close the door before you truly know the dream is over.
And these are our first seven reasons.
Because seven World Cups belongs to number seven
You made the number seven mean something to millions of people. It became part of your identity, your story and the way the world remembers you. One more World Cup would not simply be another record. It would feel like the completion of something uniquely yours: seven World Cups for number seven.
Because in 2030, the World Cup comes partly home to Portugal
Your story began in Portugal. In 2030, Portugal will be one of the principal host countries of the World Cup. The country that watched you begin, grow, struggle, rise and become one of the greatest players in history could witness one final chapter at home. There would be something deeply meaningful about that.
Because your body has never followed an ordinary timeline
You have spent your entire career showing that age does not decide everything. Your discipline, recovery, preparation and commitment have allowed you to keep doing what others thought was impossible. We do not know what 2030 will look like. Neither do you. That is why the door should remain open. You have earned the right to let your body, your form and your desire answer the question when the time comes.
Because one day, you may have the chance to share it with your son
There are no guarantees. There should not be. But even the possibility of you and your son representing Portugal at the same World Cup would be one of the most extraordinary stories football has ever seen. You do not need to promise it. We are only asking you not to close the door on the possibility.
Because we need time to understand that it is truly the last time
You have been part of our lives for more than twenty years. For many of us, there has never been a World Cup without you. If 2030 becomes your final World Cup, let us understand what we are watching while we are living it. Let us appreciate every entrance. Every anthem. Every touch. Every final moment. Let us celebrate you before the final whistle—not only after it has already ended. We need time to prepare our hearts for the real goodbye.
Because your role can change without your importance disappearing
You would not need to carry every match. You would not need to play every minute. You would not need the next World Cup to look like the ones before it. Your presence, experience, leadership, standards and belief could still mean something to Portugal while the next generation assumes greater responsibility. The role may be different. The importance does not have to disappear.
Because the final decision deserves peace, not pain
A painful ending can make everything feel final. But the final chapter of your World Cup story should not be decided only in the emotion of defeat. You deserve time. Time to recover. Time to live. Time to see what your body can still do. Time to understand what you truly want. We are not asking you for a promise. We are asking you not to close the door before you know, with peace and certainty, that the journey is complete.
Cristiano,
Whatever you decide, thank you.
If this is truly the end, we will respect it.
But if the fire is still there—even quietly—we are still here too.
If you want it, we want it with you.
Those are our first seven reasons.
What is yours?
Complete the sentence: