Portugal warned of major revenue, attention drop after Ronaldo’s international retirement
Cristiano Ronaldo
Abdullateef Fowewe
Football marketing experts have cautioned that the Portuguese national team could face a significant decline in global visibility and commercial earnings once captain Cristiano Ronaldo hangs up his international boots.
According to a report from GOAL, Portugal’s soaring popularity in recent years has been heavily tied to the presence of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, whose massive global fanbase drives sponsorships, merchandise sales, media coverage, and matchday interest.
Ronaldo, now 41, remains Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer and most capped player.
His stardom has elevated the team from a respected but relatively niche European side to a worldwide brand, especially following their 2016 UEFA Euro triumph.
Discussions around his eventual retirement have intensified as he continues to feature prominently for both club (Al-Nassr) and country.
Analysts suggest that while Portugal boasts talented younger players like Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and rising stars, the “Ronaldo effect” — a unique mix of on-pitch excellence, marketing power, and global attention will be difficult to replace, potentially leading to reduced commercial opportunities once he steps away.
