Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced his retirement from international football. The 41-year-old forward concludes his career as the all-time leader in both appearances and goals for his country, having earned 234 caps and scored 146 goals since his debut in 2003.
A Record-Breaking Career
Ronaldo’s decision follows a period of tension within the national squad. Last month, the veteran forward left the Portugal camp after being informed that he would not be in the starting lineup for a Nations League match against Denmark.
In a video posted to his Instagram account, Ronaldo addressed the Portuguese public to confirm his departure. “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,” he stated.
Reflecting on his tenure, which spanned more than two decades, he added, “I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world.”
Passing the Torch
Ronaldo acknowledged that the choice to step away was difficult, noting that it was influenced by both emotional and rational factors. “Today the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the mind alone – they are also made with the heart,” he said.
The forward concluded his announcement by marking the end of his long-standing commitment to the team. “A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to and end,” he remarked.
