Cristiano Ronaldo receives retirement advice with 'disrespectful' comments blasted after Al-Nassr strop

Ronaldo recently struggled for Portugal at Euro 2024, failing to score a single goal as his side exited the competition in the quarter-finals.

And his rage boiled over on Saturday as Al-Nassr lost 4-1 to Al-Hilal in their Saudi Super Cup clash.

Meulensteen knows all about Ronaldo, having previously helped turn the veteran into the football icon he is today.

Speaking to Free Bets, the 60-year-old says Ronaldo should only retire once his hunger starts to wane.

"For every football player it's the hardest moment in their careers," he said. "Cristiano is somebody who loves the game, he loves to play the game so much.

"No matter how much he's looked after himself from the physical point of view and I'm sure from a mental point of view, If he still feels like he can keep pace, he shouldn't listen to what anybody else says.

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"He just needs to listen to himself. When certain aspects of that life become a burden: the routine, training, travelling, or within the game you can't have the same impact.

"Cristiano is always a player that keeps playing if he feels like he can still make an impact, make a difference.

"The moment he feels that he can't make the impact he wants, that's where he needs to start to reassess this.

"Does he still get the same enjoyment out of the game without being so important rather than before where he was always important?"

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Ronaldo was savagely mocked by fans on Saturday after Al-Nassr's crushing defeat to Al-Hilal.

Yet Meulensteen feels those enjoying his decline are 'disrespectful' given everything he's achieved throughout his career.

"The people that mock him I think are disrespectful especially given the career he's had and things he's won," he added.

"We have been so lucky to have had him in our lives and he brought us so much enjoyment in his generation of players.

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"[Lionel] Messi and him are two frontrunners of that generation and they were the best in the business.

"They were both special.

"The time will come, he's 39 now, but he always said he wants to carry on and play a game with his older son, so I don't know how old he is, but he'll likely keep playing until that day arrives."

Ronaldo will be hoping to bounce back from his Super Cup heartache when Al-Nassr face Al-Raed on Thursday (7pm).

Al-Nassr haven't won the league since his arrival in the winter of 2022.

And whether he can fire his team to the trophy they crave remains to be seen.