Cristiano Ronaldo has officially ended his illustrious international career, announcing on Thursday that he is retiring from Portugal at the age of 41. The announcement came via a video posted to his Instagram account, where the five-time Ballon d’Or winner stated, “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team.” This decision marks the close of a historic chapter in European football, capping a tenure that saw him become the all-time leading scorer and appearance-maker for his country.
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Ronaldo’s international legacy is statistically unmatched, having made a world record 234 appearances for Portugal since his debut in 2003. During this span, he scored 146 goals, cementing his status as the most decorated player in the nation’s history. However, the final months of his international career were marred by significant friction with national team manager Jorge Jesus. Tensions escalated last month when Ronaldo refused to play in a Nations League match, leading to his immediate departure from the team camp and a subsequent 30-day suspension.
Despite earlier apologies and rumors suggesting a potential return to the squad, Ronaldo has chosen to step away permanently. The forward’s powers have visibly waned in recent years, and the fallout with Jesus appeared to be the final catalyst for his decision. By retiring now, Ronaldo exits on his own terms, preserving his legacy as a global icon while leaving the door open for a new generation of Portuguese talent to take the mantle. His departure signals a definitive end to an era that dominated global football for nearly two decades.
Source: Yahoo Sports
