Headline: Cristiano Ronaldo Announces Retirement from International Football
Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced his retirement from international football. The 41-year-old forward leaves a remarkable legacy, having scored 146 goals and earned 234 caps for his country—both world records—since making his debut in 2003.
In September, Ronaldo left the Portugal squad after being informed he would not start in the Nations League match against Denmark. “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,” he said in an Instagram video.
Ronaldo expressed his gratitude, stating, “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. 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 concluded by reflecting on his journey, mentioning, “A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end.”
The Portugal Football Federation has announced plans to pay tribute to Ronaldo’s remarkable career. They stated, “It is our firm and immense desire to organise, plan, participate and actively collaborate in what will always be a fitting tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo’s immense career, in which fans and the country can applaud and celebrate, once again, the player who has given us so much.”
Ronaldo’s longtime rival, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, also retired from international football in October.
