Cristiano Ronaldo, the legend of Portuguese football, announced on Thursday that he is retiring from international football at the age of 41. Ronaldo, who made his debut for the Portuguese national team in 2003, has played 234 matches and scored 146 goals throughout his sporting career.
Glorious Era and Recent Challenges
In recent years, Ronaldo has faced challenges regarding his performance with the national team. Last month, he expressed dissatisfaction with national team coach Jorge Jesus for not using him in a Nations League match and immediately left the camp. This led to a 30-day suspension for him. Although he later apologized and there were rumors about his return to the national team, he ultimately announced in a video on his Instagram that he has played his last match for his country.
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In this video, Ronaldo said: "To the people of Portugal, the day has come for me to return the national team's number 7 jersey. I never felt that this jersey belonged only to me, but I have had the honor and responsibility to defend it for 23 years." He continued: "This was not an easy decision, as some decisions are made not just with the mind, but also with the heart."
Reactions to Ronaldo's Retirement
The Portuguese Football Federation has announced that it intends to hold a "worthy tribute" to Ronaldo's great career. Despite retiring from international play, he will continue to play for his current club, Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia, under contract until June 2027.
At the height of his professional career with the Portuguese national team, Ronaldo won the European Championship in 2016, although he had to leave the final due to injury. He proudly referred to this championship, saying: "I won Euro 2016, and for me, this is as important as winning the World Cup."
In this World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Ronaldo scored three goals, but the Portuguese national team was eliminated in the Round of 16 by Spain, the eventual champion.
Football fans in Lisbon have reacted positively to Ronaldo's decision, believing that he has rightly understood the time to end his international career. One fan, Feliciano Ferreira, 50, said: "The people of Portugal are grateful for what he has done for the national team, and he has understood that the time has come to end his international career."
With Ronaldo's retirement, this recalls the departure of his long-time rival Lionel Messi from the Argentine national team last month. However, Ronaldo will remain one of the greatest players in football history, and his memories will be eternal in the hearts of his fans.
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