Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Portugal's national team after 23 years and world records
At 41, the striker announced his farewell in a social media video; the Portuguese federation promises a tribute befitting his career.
Translated from the Portuguese original by the Panorama newsroom. Read in Portuguese
Summary written by the Panorama newsroom from the sources listed below. Facts are attributed to the original publications.
Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday (Nov. 5) that he will no longer play for Portugal's national team, BBC News Mundo reported. The 41-year-old striker shared the decision in a video posted on Instagram, ending a journey that began in 2003.
According to the BBC, the player is the all-time top scorer in international football, with 146 goals, and also holds the world record for matches played for a country. He took part in six World Cups, with his best run in Germany in 2006, when Portugal reached the semifinals, and won Euro 2016 and two editions of the Nations League.
In the video, Ronaldo said the day had come to hand back the national team's number 7 shirt and that the choice was not easy, because it involved not only reason but also the heart. Last month, he had left the team's training camp upon learning he would not start against Denmark in the Nations League.
The Portuguese Football Federation stated that it will not let his departure happen without a proper tribute and that it intends to organize an homage so fans can applaud the player once more. The team was due to announce on Friday (Nov. 6) its squad for the November matches against Denmark and Wales.
The decision follows that of Ronaldo's great rival, Lionel Messi, who said goodbye to Argentina's national team in October, the BBC noted. For Argentina, Messi played 207 matches, scored 125 goals and won the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles.