Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that it is still too early for Cristiano Ronaldo to come to a decision on his international future following the Selecao's gut-wrenching Euro 2024 exit to France.
In Friday's second quarter-final - a repeat of the 2016 showpiece which Portugal won 1-0 - Ronaldo once again featured from the first whistle but saw his scoring struggles continue at the Volksparkstadion.
However, all of the 39-year-old's Portuguese colleagues and French foes also failed to light the blue-touch paper, as there were no goals to be had over the course of 90 or 120 minutes in Hamburg.
The penalty edge seemingly belonged to Portugal, who dumped Slovenia out of the tournament on spot kicks thanks to Diogo Costa's historic treble save, while France were eliminated from the last 16 of Euro 2024 by Switzerland from 12 yards.
While Ronaldo went two for two in shootout penalties - placing his effort perfectly into the bottom corner - Joao Felix could only strike the post, and Costa was unable to replicate his last-16 heroics as France scored with all five of their efforts.
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Martinez makes "raw" admission after Euro 2024 exit
As Ronaldo and Portugal crashed out, the 39-year-old was left to lament his first major international tournament where he failed to score a single goal, and he has already confirmed that he will not be playing in another Euros.
It is still unclear whether Ronaldo intends to continue for the upcoming Nations League campaign or push for the 2026 World Cup - by which time he will be 41 - but Martinez was understandably pressed on his future after the game.
However, the Selecao boss refused to give anything away with a rather curt response, telling the press: "No. Everything is too raw. We are still suffering the defeat. There's no individual decisions at this point."
Ronaldo is believed to be keen to play at the 2026 World Cup after appearing at a record six European Championships, and he could become the first male player to play at six World Cups should he be selected for the next edition.
Lionel Messi - who should almost certainly continue for the next World Cup - would also make his sixth appearance in the USA, though, while Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa could add to his total of five tournament appearances too.
Time for Ronaldo to call it a day
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Ronaldo's relentless pursuit of individual stardom - even at the age of 39 - could be seen as admirable by some and painful to witness by others, as he is evidently not the same five-time Ballon d'Or winner he once was.
The Portugal skipper is still finding the net for fun in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr and should not be hanging up his club boots any time soon, but there is nothing to gain from prolonging his international pain.
Even when he was playing poorly at the Euros and missing chance after chance, it did not even cross Martinez's mind to take him off the pitch - barring in their inconsequential final group loss to Georgia - and his teammates may feel a pressure to pass the ball to him even when the opportunity is not on, such is his fearsome status.
Less esteemed players would no doubt not be afforded the same luxury when it comes to lasting the full 90, and it is not as if clinical attackers are in short supply for Portugal, who had Diogo Jota and Goncalo Ramos restricted to bit-part roles in Germany.
It is not as if Ronaldo is calling it a day with a modest international record to his name - just the 130 goals and 47 assists from 212 matches - and the time is nigh to hand the torch over to the new generation.
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