Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football great, has retired from international football after 23 years, bringing the longest career in Portugal's history to a close. On Thursday the 41-year-old declared that his international career was over.
He turned out 234 times for his country, netting 146 goals, which stands as a world record. No other player in the men's game has scored as many for a national side, which is why this retirement matters well beyond Portugal.
Ronaldo's Issue with Jorge Jesus
In recent years, though, the striker's powers have waned, and last month he clashed with Jorge Jesus, the head coach of the national side, who had left him out of a Nations League fixture.
Ronaldo left the squad's camp straight away and received a suspension lasting 30 days.
There had been talk that he planned to rejoin the national set-up, but on Thursday the Ballon d'Or's five-time winner put out a video on Instagram announcing that his time playing for his country was over.
Ronaldo's Farewell Speech
Over footage from his career, Ronaldo said: “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team.”
“I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world,” he continued.
The moment has arrived to hand it over to those who come after. Reaching that choice was far from simple, since certain choices call for the heart as well as the head.
“A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end,” he added.
Ronaldo's finest moment on the international stage arrived in 2016, when Portugal lifted the European Championship in France, even though an injury forced him off the pitch during the final.
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Ronaldo's Final World Cup and Goal Records
Ronaldo scored three times at the World Cup held this year, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, but Portugal were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Spain, who went on to win the tournament.
With Cristiano Ronaldo moving steadily towards an astonishing 1,000 goals over his career, each one matters, and the Portugal captain is happy to claim any chance that pads his total.
The 41-year-old marked what he counted as the 982nd goal of his career on Oct. 23, during Al Nassr's 3-1 win against Al Faisaly in the Saudi Pro League, though not everyone agrees the goal belongs to him.
João Félix whipped in a free kick in the 49th minute, and Ronaldo wheeled away in celebration after a glancing header that stretched his team's advantage. Whether he truly made meaningful contact with his head is uncertain, since the ball flicked off Al Faisaly defender Andrei Girotto on its way in.
ESPN's data supplier, Opta, ruled it an own goal, yet the Saudi Pro League has given the goal to Ronaldo.
Ronaldo's Portugal Career in Numbers
- Career span with Portugal: 23 years, beginning in August 2003
- Appearances for his country: 234
- Goals for his country: 146, a world record
- Major trophy: the 2016 European Championship, won in France
- Latest tournament: he netted a hat-trick at the World Cup this season, where Spain eliminated Portugal in the round of 16
- Career goals claimed: 982, with 1,000 in sight
