Ronaldo announces international retirement

Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football on Thursday at the age of 41. The renowned player had donned the national team's number seven shirt for 234 matches and scored 146 goals, setting a world record. In recent years, Ronaldo's form had diminished, and he had a contentious relationship with national coach Jorge Jesus, leading to his suspension and subsequent announcement of his retirement.

Despite rumors that he might return to international football, Ronaldo confirmed on his Instagram account that he was ending his career with the national team. Speaking to the Portuguese people, Ronaldo expressed that the shirt represented not only his privilege and responsibility but also symbolized the journey of 23 years dedicated to the team.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner highlighted that the decision was not solely based on rational thought but also deeply emotional. Ronaldo's international career peaked in 2016 when Portugal won the European Championship in France, though an injury forced him to withdraw from the final. During the 2022 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico, Ronaldo scored three goals, but Portugal was eliminated in the Round of 16 by eventual champions Spain.