Fernando Santos: 'Cristiano Ronaldo will not retire from international football'

Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo controls the ball during the friendly against Estonia on June 8, 2016
© AFP
Portugal manager Fernando Santos claims that star player Cristiano Ronaldo could still have another decade left in him on the international stage.

Fernando Santos has said that he is confident Cristiano Ronaldo will not call time on his Portugal career, regardless of the result in the Euro 2016 showdown against France.

The Selecao face the tournament hosts in Sunday's final at the Stade de France, aiming to go one step further than in 2004 when losing to ultimate underdogs Greece on home soil.

Many questions have been asked of Ronaldo's future come the end of tomorrow's meeting, particularly in the wake of Ballon d'Or rival Lionel Messi's own recent retirement from the international scene with Argentina, but Santos has no worries of losing his star performer.

"He'll play for another six, seven, 10 years," he is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News. "I don't know. But tomorrow won't be his final match.

"Over the past two years, he wants to be better and better. He's angry at himself when things don't go his way. His ability to captain our team is standing out now. Everyone acknowledges it now and that's the end result of his will to improve."

Ronaldo has scored three times at Euro 2016 thus far - twice against Hungary in the group stage and once in the 2-0 win over Wales last Wednesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring during the Euro 2016 Group F match between Hungary and Portugal on June 22, 2016
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