Future Portugal boss? Cristiano Ronaldo tipped for management role by former Man Utd team-mate when the day comes to hang up record-breaking boots

There is no sign of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner hanging up his boots any time soon, with the all-time great still going strong at 39 years of age. He registered 50 goals for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in the 2023-24 campaign, breaking more records along the way.

Ronaldo is now preparing for European Championship duty – his 11th major tournament – and O’Shea can see him remaining part of the Portugal set-up when heading into retirement. The Irishman, who is currently in caretaker charge of his country, told reporters ahead of a friendly date with CR7 on Tuesday: “Knowing the type of person he is, the dedication and professionalism he has, I am sure he has plans to carry on in terms of Portugal and where he’s going to go. I’m sure he has ambitions, further down the line, to manage his country also in tournaments to come – if he wants to bring those pressures on him. He’s had no problem taking the pressure of his country throughout his career. Whatever his next steps will be, I am sure they will be positive for Portugal.”

Questions have been asked of whether Ronaldo can still impact proceedings at the very highest level, as he enters the latter stages of a quite remarkable career, but O’Shea – who spent several years alongside the Portuguese at Old Trafford – added on the evergreen frontman maintaining stunning standards: “You see in Saudi, he’s scored some goals for this team, and you also see the impact he’s had with his goal-scoring for Portugal in the campaign to qualify for the Euros, too. I’ve no doubt whatever plans or rotations Portugal will have to use him, to maximise how far they get in the tournament, I think Ronaldo will be a key part of that, definitely.”

Ronaldo has taken in 206 appearances for his country, scoring 128 goals, and will believe that he has what it takes – as a talismanic captain – to help Portugal chase down another continental crown to sit alongside the one that they claimed back in 2016.