Ronaldo Calls Time on International Career After Historic Portugal Journey

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to one of the most illustrious careers in the history of the sport. The Portugal captain confirmed his decision in a social media post on Thursday, stating that he would be handing back the ‘number 7 jersey’ following the international break in November.
The 41-year-old leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in Portuguese football. He has established himself as the all-time leading goalscorer and the most-capped player in men’s international football.
Ronaldo has made 234 appearances for Portugal. Since making his international debut against Kazakhstan on August 20, 2003, he has scored 146 goals. His first international goal came against Greece during UEFA Euro 2004—a tournament that marked the beginning of his journey toward becoming one of the greatest footballers of all time.
In a video announcing his retirement, Cristiano Ronaldo shared an emotional message for his fans. In a lengthy video message posted on social media, the 41-year-old said, “People of Portugal, the day has arrived for me to hand back the number 7 jersey of our national team.”
“I never felt that it belonged solely to me; rather, for 23 years, I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, honoring it, and carrying it with me into stadiums across the globe.”