‘I won’t play’ – Cristiano Ronaldo makes Portugal ‘win’ admission as all-time great claims to have had ‘50,000 bad games’

At 40 years of age, five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo continues to put himself in contention for selection by club and country. Goals have continued to flow for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, with the plan being to reach 1,000 in total before any thought is given to hanging up record-setting boots.

Questions have been asked of whether he should still be a regular starter for Portugal, despite having 218 caps to his name, but Roberto Martinez continues to lean heavily on the vast experience of a man that has seen and achieved it all.

Ronaldo will give his all whenever called upon, but insists he would happily stand aside if it meant that Portugal would fare better as a collective. He has said: “If I don't score and someone else scores, it's all the same to me. If Portugal has to win and I don't play, I'll sign my name right now, tell the coach and I won't play. I'll defend these colours until the death.”

Ronaldo is aware that fluctuations in form will always lead to dissenting voices, with more of those emerging on the back of a 1-0 UEFA Nations League defeat to Denmark. He has said ahead of the second leg in that quarter-final contest: “We can't always play well, things don't work out sometimes. I've played 50 thousand bad games, and so have my team-mates. All of that is part of it, the past is the past, it's about uniting the troops and being positive.”

CR7 will be back in familiar surroundings on Sunday when Portugal attempt to keep their hopes of Nations League glory alive. They will be facing Denmark at Estadio Jose Alvalade, the home of Sporting – Ronaldo’s boyhood club.