Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from the Portuguese national team at 41.
The Al-Nassr star is calling time on his international career as one of the most decorated players in the game. Over his 23 years of international football, he’s been capped 234 times by his country and scored 146 goals; both are men’s records. But no doubt the highlight of his international career was winning Euro 2016, Portugal’s first major trophy.
His final cap came in Portugal’s 1-0 win over Wales in September. Cristiano Ronaldo made the announcement in a video posted on his Instagram.
‘The day has come back for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,’ he said in the video. ‘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 around the world.
‘Today, the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision. Some decisions aren’t 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. When I look back at everything with the national team, I don’t just see the matches, goals, records or trophies.’
Ronaldo’s international career has ended in acrimony as he walked out on Portugal for their last two games against Norway and Denmark after a dispute with new manager Jorge Jesus.
He posted an over 1,700-word statement explaining why he walked out on his team, and he was fined €255 and suspended for 30 days following the incident.
‘Throughout my entire career with the national team, I always pushed myself beyond my limits,’ he continued in his announcement video. ‘I wanted to win, I wanted to be better, I wanted to make history. I always demanded the most of myself. I always wanted more. I always believed we could go further. And I gave everything I had for this shirt.
‘There were perfect afternoons and nights. There were victories I will never forget. There were defeats that still hurt to remember.
‘I made mistakes. I suffered. There were also moments when I couldn’t give the Portuguese people what they so desperately wanted. But I never gave up. And above all, I never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal.’
