‘That is disrespectful’ – Deco bites back at Cristiano Ronaldo question ahead of Portugal's final four showdown with Germany

Ronaldo, now 40 years old and still a fixture in top-level football, continues to silence doubters with both his club and international performances. His form for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia has kept him in the spotlight, as the forward once again emerged as the top scorer in the domestic league with 25 strikes in 30 appearances.

On the back of his sensational club form, Ronaldo has once again been included in Portugal’s squad for the Nations League semifinals. The Al-Nassr star will be brimming with confidence and will look to increase his international goals tally as he keeps marching towards the lofty 1000-goal target that he set himself a couple of seasons back.

In a recent interview, Deco emphatically dismissed any notion that Ronaldo's time with the national squad might be up.

"That question doesn't even need to be asked. That is disrespectful," he told reporters. "Cristiano is the greatest Portuguese player. He's the greatest player in the history of world football."

While Ronaldo remains the face of the team, Deco also spoke highly of Portugal’s evolving squad.

"I think it's good, it's positive," he said. "Portugal has a fantastic, incredible national team for me. With new players appearing, there's a future ahead."

The Nations League semifinals present a pivotal moment for Portugal. Having previously won the tournament in its inaugural edition, the Selecao are eager to reclaim the title. Their first hurdle is Germany, at the Allianz Arena on June 4. Should Portugal advance, they will face either France or Spain in the final—a stage Ronaldo has graced multiple times in his career.