Cristiano Ronaldo stated on Monday that he will "always think he'll be a starter," but when he feels he is no longer an asset to either his club or the national team, he will "be the first to step aside."

"I know what I can do, and I'll keep doing it. I'm very positive about the present. I feel happy... When the time comes, I'll take that step forward," Cristiano said during a press conference with the Portuguese national team.

"I'll always think I'm a starter, but I'll always respect the coach. As long as there's professional ethics, I'll respect the coaches. If there's no ethics, then there could be controversy (laughs)," he added.

The 39-year-old, currently playing for Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr, said he feels "good, almost in shape," but declined to answer whether he wants to play in the 2026 World Cup, focusing instead on "living in the moment."

The Portuguese captain also reflected positively on his team's participation in Euro 2024 in Germany, where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals, acknowledging that expectations for the team had been set "too high."

"In my opinion, the Euro wasn't a disappointment; it was part of the growth of a team that needs to take its time. For me, it was positive. Nobody likes to lose, but I don't see it as a failure—I think it was a victory."

He continued, "When things are going well, it's hard to evolve, so we learn from it, both in football and in life. You have to face bad moments with optimism and lightness. That's life."

The former Real Madrid striker also confirmed that "it never crossed his mind" to leave the national team after the Euro, where he ended up without scoring, which only "motivated him more to keep going."

"There will be games where I don't score; that's part of it and it's not a problem," he noted.

Cristiano also emphasized that he tries "not to live obsessed with scoring," because "the goals will come naturally."