LISBON.- The myth of Portuguese football Cristiano Ronaldo He announced this Thursday his retirement as an international player, after 23 years of experience with the Portuguese team and a recent controversy with his coach. Jorge Jesuswhich cost him a sanction.
“It was not an easy decision,” the 41-year-old star said in a message on instagram addressed “to the Portuguese”, where he announced that the time had come to deliver “for the future” the shirt with which he won the Euro 2016.
Record of matches and goals
“Today my journey with the national team comes to an end,” added Ronaldo in a video, who retires with record numbers in men’s soccer: 234 caps and 146 goals with the Portuguese shirt since 2003.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) expressed its “firm and profound desire to organize a tribute at the height of Cristiano Ronaldo’s immense career.”
“THANK YOU. What you have done for Portugal will resonate for eternity,” wrote the Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.
His retirement is clouded by the scandal with Jorge Jesus on September 27 in Oslo. The coach left him on the bench and without minutes in the game Nations League against Norwaydespite having warmed up on the sidelines for more than half an hour.
Before the next match against Denmarkreported that Ronaldo would not start and the player left the concentration.
After apologizing days later, CR7 received a symbolic sanction of 30 days of suspension and a fine of 255 euros ($286).
“I must accept his decision, but it will always remain in the hearts of Portugal and the Seleçao,” Jorge Jesus said this Thursday.
Allegation against Jorge Jesus
The FPF had paved the way for his return by announcing last week that he was among the fifty players pre-called to face Denmark on November 14 in Panty (north) and then to Welshthree days later, in Cardiff.
Although Ronaldo regretted his attitude towards fans and his teammates, he attacked coach Jorge Jesus with a long statement in which he accused him of having betrayed his trust.
24 hours ahead of the announcement by the coach of his final list for the next two games of the League of Nationsthe Portuguese captain announced that he will not return.
“The day has come to return our national team’s No. 7 shirt to everyone. I am putting an end to a journey that began in August 2003 and that changed my life forever,” he declared.
Contrast with Messi
In his last major tournament, the World organized in summer 2026 in North Americathe player born on the island of Madeira became the first in history to score in six World Cupsbut the competition concluded with a discreet performance, with the elimination of Portugal in the round of 16 against Spain (1-0), the future champion.
The contrast is striking with its eternal rival Lionel Messiwho reached the final of the last World Cup as a hero of a Argentina built around him and always ready to follow him.
With his five Golden Balls and many others Champions Leaguesearned with the Manchester United and the real MadridRonaldo long supported Portuguese ambitions to win the World Cup.
Semifinalist in the 2006 edition, he took over from the generation of Luis Figo and equaled the feat of Eusebiothe first of three Portuguese Ballon d’Ors, which had taken Portugal to the semi-finals in the 1966 World Cup.
Euro 2016, “forever”
And, after another semi-final in the Euro 2012his greatest achievement was victory in the continental championship four years later.
The final against France in Paris It will continue to be, however, a moment of contrasts for Cristiano Ronaldo, who retired in tears due to injury after about twenty minutes of play, later seeing how Eder He assumed the role of providential hero with his decisive goal in extra time (1-0).
“I won the Euro 2016 and, for me, it is as important as the World Cup. That will remain forever,” he recalled at the end of the last World Cup.
Portugal, which had to wait for the emergence of the Ronaldo era to achieve its first titles at the senior team level, later won the Nations League twice, in its first edition in 2019 and again in 2025.
Close to 42 years old, which he will turn in February, Ronaldo will continue to be active, as a player of the Al Nasrin Saudi Arabiahis club since 2022.
