Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed that he risked his career by playing in last season's Champions League final victory for Real Madrid.
The Portuguese played a starring role in leading Real to two trophies last season, with the Copa del Rey coming before a famous extra-time win over bitter city rivals Atletico in the season's showpiece.
Ronaldo bagged 65 goals in 60 games of a gruelling season for club and country - a schedule which the former Manchester United man insists put his career at risk.
"Yes, I put my career in danger by playing in the Champions League final in Lisbon," the 29-year-old told World Soccer.
"You don't win anything in life if you don't take any risks.
"We were involved in some major competitions and things were complicated. In the end, it all worked out well. I beat the goal scoring record in the Champions League.
Real were chasing an unlikely treble up until the closing weeks of the season, with Diego Simeone eventually leading Atletico to La Liga glory.
Carlo Ancelotti's men would gain almost instant revenge at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon however, with an extra-time blitz led by Angel di Maria and Gareth Bale securing a 4-1 win.
Ronaldo crowned the comeback with the final goal, a penalty which took his Champions League tally to 17 goals from 11 games - a competition record.
His exertions for Real eventually took their toll however, and Ronaldo was unable to shake off injury concerns heading into the World Cup, with a mere 18 days separating the Champions League final with Portugal's first World Cup warm-up game.
"It took a lot of my body to play in the Champions League final and then at the World Cup. It would have been good had I had the chance to take a break. But you don't want to miss out on the Champions League final and the World Cup.
Despite appearing in all three of Portugal's World Cup group stage games, Ronaldo scored just once as his side crashed out under his captaincy.
"I wasn't in the best condition, but I pushed through. Things went well at club level. We won the final, I scored and the club at last got the Decima, which was what we had all been waiting for. With Portugal, things didn't go as well.
So far this season, Ronaldo has notched a remarkable 13 goals in six games, including three hat-tricks.
