By ThePreview Team

 

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football legend, has announced his retirement from international football, ending a 23-year career with the national team.

The 41-year-old announced his decision in a social media post on Thursday, a month after he walked out of the Portugal camp following a fallout with head coach Jorge Jesus.

Ronaldo had reportedly fallen out with Mr Jesus after the manager refused to use him in a Nations League match.

In a video announcing his retirement, Ronaldo said the time had come to hand back the number seven shirt.

“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,” he said.

“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.

“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.

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“A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end.”

A record career

Ronaldo played 234 times for Portugal and scored 146 goals, making him the country’s all-time leading goalscorer.

He captained the national team for 19 years and lifted a European Championship trophy and two Nations League titles.

His debut in August 2003 began a career that made him Portugal’s most-capped player and most prolific scorer, and one of the most decorated international footballers in history.