PARIS.- Best player in the history of Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo He ended his international career. In 23 years, he has left a unique mark with the Portuguese team, whose shirt he has worn 234 times, scoring 146 goals.
These have been five of the great moments of his 23 years wearing the Portuguese national team jersey:
2013: CR7 wins the fight against “Ibra”
After winning 1-0 in the first leg thanks to a goal from their emblematic CR7, Portugal traveled to Sweden with the mission of not being surprised that November 19, 2013, in the return of a playoff that gave access to the Brazil World Cup 2014.
Ronaldo put his country on the right track by opening the scoring, but his Swedish alter ego, Zlatan Ibrahimovicresponded with a double that put everyone’s backs on high.
Taking on the responsibility of avoiding disaster, Ronaldo scored two new goals, in just two minutes, and gave Portugal the ticket to Brazilon a tremendous night that is remembered as one of the brightest in the star’s career.
2016: tears before ecstasy
Recently proclaimed champion of Europe with the real MadridCR7 dreamed of achieving his first major title with Portugal in the French Euro Cup 2016.
But the tournament did not start well for the Portuguese, who did not win any match in their group (three draws), despite which they qualified for the direct elimination rounds, where they advanced to the final, in which they left with the sign of victims against the host. France.
Portugal had already lost the European final at home against Greece in 2004, in Cristiano Ronaldo’s first major tournament.
Injured in the 25th minute against the French, Cristiano left the pitch of the France Stadium crying with rage.
He finished the final on the sideline, alongside the coach Fernando Santosgiving instructions to his companions.
a bit of Eder In extra time, Portugal became champion of that Euro 2016 Championship, in the greatest success in the history of that team so far.
2018: triplet to Spain
At a moment of splendor in his career, after three Champions consecutive with Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo started the Russia World Cup 2018 in a big way, precisely against Spain.
That June 15, 2018 in Sochithe Portuguese captain did not waste time: after only four minutes, he caused and scored a penalty, beating David de Gea.
Diego Costa He equalized for Spain and Cristiano once again put his team ahead… until Costa leveled the score again.
Spain went 3-2 up, with a superb half volley from Nachobut the Portuguese attacker kept one last ace up his sleeve and in the final minutes, with a free kick that he scored into the top corner, he established the final 3-3 and a memorable hat trick.
2025: 40 years are nothing
The UEFA Nations League decided in June 2025 became a new demand for Cristiano Ronaldo.
He scored in the quarterfinals against Denmark and then in the semifinals against Germany. But Cristiano, now in his forties, beat Spain on penalties in the final Munichso that Portugal took its second “Nations”, six years after the first.
Spain went ahead twice in the match, but Portugal responded on both occasions.
Ronaldo was the scorer of the goal for the 2-2 draw, which ended up leading to the resolution in a penalty shootout in which he did not participate because he had already been replaced, but in which he vibrated like another fan and as he had done in the Euro Cup final in 2016.
2026: the farewell
In the round of 32 match of the World Cup 2026Ronaldo had a fight with his former teammate Real Madrid, Luka Modricin a Portugal-Croatia thrilling.
One of the two superstars was going to say goodbye to the World Cup, perhaps forever, and Croatia took the lead on the scoreboard.
It was then that Ronaldo appeared to relaunch his team: he scored a goal, although it was disallowed for offside, and then he let out his frustration by scoring a penalty.
The winning goal 2-1 for the Portuguese was signed later Goncalo Ramosfor a long-suffering and agonizing victory.
The dream, however, vanished a few days later in dallas when Spain eliminated Portugal in the second round.
