Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football following a fall-out with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus. The 41-year-old finishes his career as Portugal's highest goal-scorer. He has 146 goals in 232 appearances for Portugal. In 2016, he won the European Championship.
Ronaldo said that he would ‘hand back the number 7 shirt’ after the November international break. He also holds the all-time record for international appearances and for international goals. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner bows out as one of the greatest players to ever represent Portugal.
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“To the Portuguese people. The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team. 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," Ronaldo said in the video posted on social media.
“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. A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end," he said further.
“When I look back at everything I experienced with the national team, I don’t just see matches, goals, records or trophies. I see people, 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 have become 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 limits. 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," he added.
