Portugal pledge to honour Ronaldo as Jesus names first squad after captain's retirement

Lisbon, Portugal: In a heartfelt announcement on Friday, the Portuguese football federation pledged to honor Cristiano Ronaldo, the country's all-time leading scorer, as he bids farewell from the national team following his recent retirement. Manager Jorge Jesus unveiled the squad on Friday, featuring seven new players, including five from the Under-21s, for upcoming Nations League matches against Wales and Denmark.

Ronaldo's captaincy bid farewell raised questions about the rift that preceded his decision to call time on his international career.

At 41 years old, Ronaldo made his decision to retire from international football on social media, ending a remarkable career spanning 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal. Portuguese FA president Pedro Proenca assured that they would do everything in their power to celebrate Ronaldo's contribution to Portuguese football, acknowledging that no tribute could ever be sufficient to repay his immense debt of gratitude.

The forward's departure came as a surprise to many, as he left the national team without permission in late September, ahead of a Nations League match against Denmark. Ronaldo later cited broken promises from Jesus as the catalyst for his exit from the team. Despite the controversy, Jesus remained firm in his defense of his selection decisions, emphasizing that he made choices solely with the team's best interests in mind.

Ronaldo maintained that he was unaware of the rift until the announcement was made, expressing his disappointment as he learned about the departure through the media. The Portuguese sports authorities, including Jesus and Proenca, expressed their respect for Ronaldo's decision, praising his leadership and legacy on generations of Portuguese players.

They affirmed that the best tribute they could offer to Ronaldo is to honor his ambition and determination to always play to win, and to never be intimidated by the pursuit of excellence.