The flash kept flashing. The sound of the shutter being pressed and the discussion that was not deliberately lowered penetrated the thin plastic door.

Eleven fifty.

Mr. Ronaldo, who is no longer young, is finishing his appearance in the bathroom. He untied his tie and tied it again. He looked at his well-styled hairstyle and reached out to touch the strand of hair on his forehead. There's nothing wrong with any of this, yes. His fingers lightly touched the cross earrings beside his ears, and the diamonds left a hard touch on his fingertips. There was a knock on the bathroom door, "You still have five minutes, Cristiano." His agent said outside the door.

"I'll come right away." He heard himself reply. How strange, he thought, that the protagonist of this conference is clearly me, but I feel that I have nothing to do with it.

Mr. Ronaldo turned around and walked toward the door. He suddenly felt that the shoes he wore today were so inappropriate. Not so comfortable, and a little strange. But these are leather shoes that fit him perfectly, standard UK size 9. Different from the football boots that were two sizes too small that he was used to. Those shoes often put his feet in pain. He stamped his feet. On such a hard surface, the feeling of contact between leather shoes and feet was completely different from that of football shoes. It's hard to say which one is more comfortable, or it's just a subjective comparison in his heart. He heard the tapping sound of leather shoes on the tiles, as if a part of him was lost forever in this tapping sound.

Eleven fifty-eight.

"No time!" Jorge Mendes is obviously a rationalist who is vigorous enough. Unlike his biggest employer who is emotional, he is indeed a rational and mature businessman. At least on this occasion, he was wise enough to realize that, at least today, his employer was not allowed to be late.

"One, two, three, it's your turn, Cristiano!" The staff member opened the door, and Jorge pushed his back without leaving a trace. Cristiano stumbled a step, or in other words, he thought he stumbled. In fact, he just walked forward as usual, nodding slightly at the flashing lights and heads in the audience. It was like facing those cliched press conferences after previous game days, talking about the success or failure of the day, responding to provocations or whatever.

But today is different.

He pulled out the chair, knowing that shortly after he took his seat, the press officer would follow. But Cristiano's hands are trembling a little. Does it have to be today? At that insignificant moment, he felt hesitant, but soon, this hesitation was suppressed by him. When he finally took his seat, the reporters leaned forward and more shutter sounds sounded. They seemed keen to record all his expressions today and couldn't wait to write some big news about him.

This is the retirement conference of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Of course, reporters don't know this at the moment. Out of some mischievous selfishness, he and Mendes only claimed that they would have a press conference to announce something.

In these last few little things about football, Jorge Mendes acquiesced in his choice - sorry, Mendes is no longer responsible for his financial affairs. So it should be said that his economic team acquiesced in his choice.

"I don't want to say I'm glad you're here."

Cristiano said, after what he thought was a long silence, he was the first to speak: "After all, I know why you are gathered here. And you may be confused about it. I will reveal the answer soon.

Maybe you are waiting for my next transfer news. Guess I'm announcing this today? "

The reporters outside the venue held their cameras, some were writing furiously, and many were waiting for his next words.

He had no intention of continuing to whet their appetites.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I once said that I am the only master of myself, and I will stop when I can no longer move forward. I stop when I don't want to play, when I open my eyes and don't want to train.

I want to say that this is a difficult decision. People can fight against fate as much as possible, and during this journey of mine, I am proud to prove this. I did try my best to fight against fate, stay in shape, be determined, train hard, and do everything I can... However, the fact is that, like everyone, aging is an eternal topic, and your old age cannot be hidden like a cough. Every time you run, every time you touch the ball, your intuition and spirit are still telling you what to do, but you just can't run as you imagined.

It's very difficult to say this, but yes. I think it's time. I decided to retire. "

The moment he said these words, Mr. Ronaldo clearly felt that something was indeed flowing out of his body, which was more serious than the sound of leather shoes hitting the floor - forever.

This is really weird, after all, shoes are just a small thing. If he puts his spikes back on, maybe that part will come back. But when he said these words, he felt that something would never come back.

There was a huge buzz from the reporters. Forgive him for using that word, but for God's sake they were like a swarm of noisy bees. Countless reporters he saw were raising their hands. This was obviously huge news, and their enthusiastic expressions made him feel a strange yet familiar sense of boredom.

That was part of the reason he left Europe in the first place.

Cristiano was not going to answer the reporter’s questions, so he continued:

“A summary, of course. Everyone’s retirement press conference must be like this. Regarding mine, I have to say that this journey is so wonderful. It starts with Portugal and ends with the press conference. I don’t think anyone expected it to end like this, including me. I mean, even as a control freak like me - I know you call me that - I have to admit that football is round and so is destiny. You have to let nature take its course and not be too attached to something. "

“Playing football is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Football is a pure sport. Of course, the world formed by football is very complicated. I don’t want to comment on what I have done in the past, whether it is right or wrong, glorious or regretful. That may no longer matter. Right and wrong will be judged by future generations, and I don't care what others think of me. Once I stopped going on, it just ended. "

"You may want to know how I judge some people, what I won't judge, that's not the point. I would like to thank the coaches I have experienced or met, they are all incredible people and have taught me a lot. I will also wish each of them the best. Of course, Sir Alex Ferguson is my father in football, I said it before and I say it now. "

“Player-wise. Some of the best teammates and opponents I've ever had. We had a lot of wins and accolades, and most importantly, we made history as a group, which was really cool and I will miss everything we made. "

"I once said that those who hate me will have to endure me for a while. Now, whether you are those who hate me or those who love me, I will thank you for witnessing this journey of mine, and I will send you my best wishes. The story of football continues, and I am no longer the writer."

Cristiano saw the dumbfounded faces of the reporters. They seemed completely frightened by him. Finally, you have a piece of news that was stated by you yourself, rather than something that had been leaked before. He felt a little happy, or maybe not. In fact, he left his seat after saying these words. The press officer hurriedly stopped the crazy reporters, and they almost pressed the shutter to create an afterimage.

"Cristiano, where will you choose to hang up your boots?"

"Cristiano, will you hold a farewell ceremony? Why did you choose to retire? Is it because no club has offered you an offer?"

"Cristiano, how do you define your relationship with Messi? You know he also left Europe."

"Cristiano, why did you choose to retire this year? Don't you want to participate in next year's World Cup?"

He heard someone ask. He didn't intend to answer, but he heard someone asking again: Will you congratulate the new Ballon d'Or winner? Since you haven't commented on this.

Cristiano is a bit funny at first. After so many years, why are people still obsessed with this? The new Ballon d'Or winner...well, he really didn't watch the news yesterday.

Although he is not obligated to express his attitude towards anything, nor is he obligated to congratulate anyone. Even if that seems respectable. But he understands that the media has always treated him with a different set of standards.

They would only insist on asking him if he had congratulated anyone, and then give him advice. And when he lost his son and needed comfort, no one ever asked those people if they had expressed their regards to him.

Even though so much time has passed, even though it has been three years since his last World Cup, and three years since his child died in infancy. At that moment, Cristiano still felt a familiar pain. He couldn't tell where the pain came from, maybe it was the moment they were outed, maybe it was the moment he realized he couldn't be trusted, maybe it was the moment he realized he had indeed lost a child. This is a bit ironic, but more painful. Superimposed, knife-like pain.

He lost a loved one again. Since his dad. This kind of pain is long-lasting, and he won't always think of it, but the pain does exist.

And speaking of World Cup…

Cristiano Always think that you are the best. He doesn't think he is worse than anyone else, but maybe he is not that good in the eyes of some people. If he has an unspoken dream, it is indeed World Cup trophy. He couldn't get that trophy, that's a fact. Portugal was never the favorite.

He promised to always aspire and work hard throughout his life. But when the regret becomes a reality, he still inevitably feels pain. After all, that's not entirely due to inferior skills, is it?

It was like reopening a wound he thought was healed. Not trusted. Not united enough. Cristiano can never let go of this.

"Compared with Leo Messi, will you regret Ronaldo? After all, he got World Cup trophy."

He will not participate in next year's World Cup, and even if he could, his physical fitness no longer allows it. And on their last World Cup, one of his opponents realized the dream.

Football is round, and so is fate. Cristiano never believed in fate. He could not tell who fate favored. Behind the trophy was endless hard work, and he knew this best. He knows that anyone who gives everything has the right to win trophies.

He knew what the reporter wanted to hear, but he ultimately didn’t say it. He will take these words to his grave, and perhaps decades from now he will be willing to let some publisher publish the secret.

I will not bless Messi.

He fulfilled a dream that I couldn't fulfill. This is true.

Between us, we are not friends, just just right rivals. I won't have dinner with him or chat like friends. No one stipulates that opponents must bless each other. Football is not war, but it is no different from war.

I'm sorry I didn't get World Cup trophy.

If anyone really wants to know what I think, the truth is, I just have to accept it as I accept all other facts.

Retired at Forty: Ronaldo’s Rebirth as a Madeira Teenager — Chapter 8

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