Cristiano Ronaldo retirement reason | Cristiano Ronaldo retires from portugal international football team

Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football, ending with 146 goals in 234 appearances after a dispute with the Portuguese FA. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner made his international debut in 2003, captained the team to their first major trophy at Euro 2016, and helped win the 2019 and 2025 Nations Leagues.

No men’s footballer has made as many international appearances (234) or scored as many goals (146) for their nation as Ronaldo.

The 41-year-old made the announcement on Thursday via his social media accounts.

Cristiano Ronaldo Statement:

“The day has come back for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” he said. “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.

“If ⁠I ever made you happy, ⁠if one of my goals ever made you hug someone, forget a worry or feel proud of our country, ⁠then it was all worth it.”

“A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end. When I look back at everything with the national team, I don’t just see the matches, goals, records or trophies.

“I see people. I see the Portuguese people living abroad who, for 90 minutes, felt a little closer to home. I see millions of Portuguese people I have never met but who became part of my life. Because at the end of the day, football is so much bigger than a game. Football is about people.”

“Throughout my entire career with the national team I always pushed myself beyond my limits,” he continued in his announcement video. “I wanted to win, I wanted to be better, I wanted to make history. I always demanded the most of myself. I always wanted more. I always believed we could go further. And I gave everything I had for this shirt.

“There were perfect afternoons and nights. There were victories I will never forget. There were defeats that still hurt to remember.

“I made mistakes. I suffered. There were also moments when I couldn’t give the Portuguese people what they so desperately wanted. But I never gave up. And above all, I never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal.”

Portugal’s 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.