Cristiano Ronaldo and the father who never saw him become great

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has taken to social media to congratulate Cristiano Ronaldo on his retirement from international football. The former England international praised Ronaldo's record of 234 caps and 146 goals for Portugal in a post on X. Ronaldo confirmed his retirement from international football in a video released on November 5, 2023.

The 41-year-old Al Nassr forward stated that the time had come to 'hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team', revealing that the decision was not made solely with the mind but also with the heart. Ronaldo's international career spanned 23 years and included Euro 2016, as well as the 2019 and 2025 Nations League titles. Interestingly, 94 of his goals came after his 30th birthday.

Ronaldo's last international appearance was Portugal's 1-0 win over Wales in September, where he was an unused substitute. He had left the camp on September 30, which led to a fine and suspension from the Portuguese federation. In a lengthy statement, Ronaldo initially apologized to his teammates and insisted he was not retiring.

However, he has since reversed that decision. Portugal's federation expressed gratitude to Ronaldo, who was referred to as their 'eternal captain', and announced plans for a fitting tribute. Other former teammates, including Rio Ferdinand and Diogo Dalot, also commented on the news.