11/05/2026 05:08:00
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11/05 05:07 CST Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement
from international soccer
Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from
international soccer
LISBON, Portugal (AP) --- Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday he won't play
for Portugal anymore, ending a career that spanned six World Cups and included
a European title and the men's all-time international scoring record.
The announcement marked the end of a lauded career that began more than two
decades ago before Euro 2004 and finished with him walking out on the national
team after falling out with coach Jorge Jesus.
"To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt
of our national team," the 41-year-old Ronaldo said in a long video message on
social media. "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.
"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."
Portugal plans tribute to ?greatest of all time'
While long-time peer Lionel Messi finished his career with Argentina after a
much anticipated farewell match last month, Ronaldo's final appearance with
Portugal has ended up being on Sept. 24 in a 1-0 win over Wales in the Nations
League.
Jesus kept him on the bench for the following match and said he didn't plan to
start him in the next one, so Ronaldo decided to leave the team's training
camp. Jesus later said Ronaldo would be welcome back and the decision to return
was up to him.
The Portuguese soccer federation released a statement expressing "deep
gratitude and immense admiration" for Ronaldo's service to the country.
"Cristiano Ronaldo has 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!" the federation said.
It said it intends to organize a tribute to Ronaldo "in which the fans and the
country can one more time applaud and celebrate a player who has given us so
much."
Like Messi, Ronaldo will keep playing at club level, and is expected to finish
his club career at the end of this season with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
He is in pursuit of his 1,000th career goal and sits on 985. Of those, a record
146 goals came in 234 appearances with Portugal.
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