Cristiano Ronaldo Announces Farewell to Portugal National Team

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he is leaving the Portugal national team. The 41-year-old forward made the announcement in a post on his social media account.

In the post, Ronaldo wrote: “The time has come to return the number 7 shirt of our national team. I never felt that this shirt belonged only to me. But for 23 years, I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it, and carrying it to stadiums around the world.”

He said it was time to hand the shirt to the next generation. “It was not an easy decision. Some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart,” he said.

A Journey Since 2003

“The journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end,” Ronaldo said. “When I look back at everything I experienced with the national team, I do not only see matches, goals, records or trophies. I see people. I see Portuguese people living abroad who felt a little closer to home for 90 minutes. I see millions of Portuguese people I have never met but who are part of my life. Because at the end of the day, football is much bigger than a game. Football is about people.”

Ronaldo has made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals. He holds the records for the most appearances in a national team shirt and the most goals scored for a national team by a male player.

Recent Events

Ronaldo’s last match for Portugal was a 1-0 win over Wales in the UEFA Nations League in September.

Earlier, he left the national team camp after he did not get any playing time in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway in the UEFA Nations League. The disciplinary board fined him 255 euros and gave him a 30-day ban. In a 1,740-word statement apologizing to his teammates, Ronaldo had said he would not leave the national team.

Career Highlights

Ronaldo, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, made his debut for Portugal in 2003. He has won the Ballon d’Or five times. With Portugal, he won the 2016 European Championship and the UEFA Nations League twice.