JUST IN: (VIDEO) CRISTIANO RONALDO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL
Read Time:1 Minute, 49 Second
By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
Portugal captain and football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 41.
The forward, who made his debut for Portugal in 2003, holds the world records for most international goals, with 146, and most appearances, having earned 234 caps for his country.
Ronaldo previously walked out of Portugal’s training camp in September after learning that he would not be included in the starting lineup for the Nations League fixture against Denmark.
Announcing his decision in an Instagram video, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said it was time to hand over Portugal’s iconic number seven shirt to the next generation.
“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,” he said.
He added that wearing the shirt for 23 years had been both a privilege and a responsibility, allowing him to represent his country in stadiums across the world.
“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,” Ronaldo stated.
Meanwhile, the Portugal Football Federation has expressed its desire to organise a fitting farewell in honour of the striker’s remarkable international career.
The federation said it would not allow his departure from the national team to pass without proper recognition.
In a statement, it described Ronaldo’s contribution to Portuguese football as immense, adding that it wanted supporters and the country to have another opportunity to celebrate the player who had given so much to the national team.
Portugal are scheduled to announce their squad for November’s Nations League fixtures against Denmark at home and Wales away on Friday.
Ronaldo’s retirement announcement comes after his long-time rival and Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, also retired from international football in October.
Watch video here:
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