Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 41, announced his retirement from the Portugal national team through a video message on social media. He will "hand back the No 7 shirt" after 23 years of international play. This decision follows his departure from the national team training camp after a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus regarding his role in the squad. I find the abruptness of his exit, following his benching before the match against Denmark, quite messy. He played his last match for Portugal on 24 September in a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales. This exit ends an international career that began in August 2003 and spanned six World Cups and a European title.
A messy exit from the pitch
I see a stark difference between this departure and the farewell of Lionel Messi, who finished his career with Argentina last month in October after a much-anticipated farewell match. Ronaldo left the camp after Jesus told him he did not plan to start him in the upcoming fixture. Ronaldo said, "To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No 7 shirt of our national team." He added, "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 also explained, "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. A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end."
| International Metric | Ronaldo’s Record |
|---|---|
| Portugal Caps | 234 |
| Portugal Goals | 146 |
| Career Goal Total | 985 |
| Years with Team | 23 |
The Portuguese Football Federation released a statement expressing deep gratitude and immense admiration for Ronaldo’s service, which began with his first international appearance in August 2003, and they intend to organize a tribute for him. The federation stated that Ronaldo "raised Portugal’s profile and inspired generations of young people who dream of following in his footsteps; for many of us, he is the greatest player of all time!" They want to organize an event in which the fans and the country can one more time applaud and celebrate the player who has given so much to the team. His storied career included 234 appearances and 146 goals, a record that includes a European title won during his long tenure. While Ronaldo leaves the international stage, he will continue playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia until the end of this season. He currently sits on 985 career goals and pursues his 1,000th career goal as he prepares for the end of his club career. Jesus said Ronaldo remains welcome back and the decision to return rests with him.
