Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese footballer, revealed on Thursday that he is stepping down from international football at the age of 41. Ronaldo represented Portugal in 234 matches, scoring a world-record 146 goals.
While his influence has diminished in recent years, a notable incident occurred last month when he clashed with national coach Jorge Jesus after being benched for a Nations League game. Ronaldo departed the team camp and received a 30-day suspension.
Despite speculation about a potential return, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner confirmed his international retirement via an Instagram video on Thursday. “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo stated. He reflected on the honor of wearing the jersey for 23 years, emphasizing that it was a decision made with both his mind and heart.
His international journey, which began in August 2003, culminated in a significant victory at the 2016 European Championship in France, though he was injured during the final. At the recent World Cup held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Ronaldo scored three goals, but Portugal was eliminated in the Round of 16 by the eventual champions, Spain.
