Legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement Thursday from international play with the Portuguese National Team at the age of 41.
A Legendary International Career
The veteran star revealed the news in a post on social media, concluding a remarkable run that included 234 appearances for Portugal since his debut in 2003.
Reporting for Reuters, Ronaldo explained his choice by stating, “It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not made only with the head. They are also made with the heart. If I ever made you happy, if one of my goals ever made you hug someone, forget a worry or feel proud of our country, then it was all worth it.”
Ronaldo steps away from international competition holding numerous records, including 234 matches played and 146 goals scored for his country.
Recent Tension and Achievements
The retirement follows a recent dispute between the player, the Portuguese National Team, and head coach Jorge Jesus. As reported by Jessica Hopkins of The Athletic, Ronaldo departed the team’s training camp early after remaining unused during a UEFA Nations League fixture against Norway in September.
Following that incident, Ronaldo received a €255 fine and a 30-day suspension from the national setup. Last month, he released an apology statement while asserting that Jesus broke a promise by keeping him on the bench against Norway.
Despite previous indications that he would remain available for selection, Ronaldo has now chosen to end his international journey. While he never secured a FIFA World Cup trophy, he famously guided Portugal to victory at the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and claimed the UEFA Nations League title twice.
This past summer, Ronaldo competed in his final World Cup tournament, netting three goals before Portugal suffered elimination against Spain in the round of 16.
With nearly 1,000 career goals across club and country fixtures, Ronaldo departs the international stage as the most prolific goal scorer in football history, though he continues his club career with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
