Cristiano Ronaldo Retire From Portugal National Team

After 23 Years, Cristiano Ronaldo Hang Hin Boot

Cristiano Ronaldo don announce say he don retire from international football, as he no go play for Portugal national team again after 23 years of service.

Di five-time Ballon d’Or winner make dis announcement on Thursday morning, just one day before Portugal coach, Jorge Jesus, suppose announce him latest squad on Friday. Dis decision mark di end of one remarkable journey wey start for August 2003, when Ronaldo make him senior debut for Portugal.

For him retirement statement wey he post for social media, Ronaldo tok say:

“To di pipu of Portugal, di day don reach make I return di number 7 jersey of our national team. I never see am as my personal property, but for 23 years, I get di privilege and responsibility to wear am, defend am and carry am go different stadiums around di world. Now, di time don reach to hand am over to di next generation. E no be easy decision because some decisions no dey come from head alone, dem dey come from heart too.”

However, Ronaldo retirement come after serious gbas gbos between am and Portugal coachie, Jorge Jesus.

Di gbege bin start after Portugal match against Norway, when Jesus leave Ronaldo for bench, after dem don discuss say e go play for about 30 minutes.

According to reports, Ronaldo vex on top di matter, kon comot di team training camp without permission, na so di coach respond by dropping am for one match and reveal say he no plan to start am for di next match.

Portugal football authorities later punish di striker with 30-day suspension and fine am 255 euros, wey equal 285 dollars, and Ronaldo don already serve di suspension.

He last play for Portugal on September 24, for dia 1-0 win against Wales, before coach Jesus substitute am for di 67th minute.

Despite di disagreement, pipu across Portugal don dey send messages of appreciation to Ronaldo, describe am as global ambassador and inspiration to millions.

But di manner wey im international career take end don leave some kain bitter feelings.

Age na also one major factor wey fit influence di decision. At 41, Ronaldo don maintain im fitness and competitive level far beyond wetin many footballers fit achieve. Retiring from international football fit allow am concentrate more on im club career and manage im workload better.

Some Of Di Biggest Challenges Ronaldo Face For Him Career

Behind Ronaldo goals, trophies and countless records, na several painful experiences, injuries, disappointments and personal challenges dey.

1. Heart Condition Almost Threaten Him Football Dream At 15

When Ronaldo dey just 15 years old, he dey develop for Sporting CP academy when doctors discover say e get tachycardia, na condition wey dey make pesin heart beat faster than normal. Di condition raise concern about whether e go fit continue im football career. But he do surgery to correct di problem, and di surgery dey successful. After small time pass, he enter field resume training.

2. Losing Euro 2004 Final For House

One of Ronaldo early international disappointments happun for 2004 European Championship.

Portugal host di competition and reach di final, but Greece shock dem with 1-0 victory to carry di trophy.

Ronaldo, wey just dey 19 years old, miss better opportunate to win him first major international title.

3. Wunjury For Euro 2016 Final

One of di moments wey carry better emotion for Ronaldo career happun for Euro 2016 final against France.

After France midfielder Dimitri Payet jam am, Ronaldo kon carry wunjury for hin knee, but he sti try continue di match.

As e dey play on, di wunjury hook am again, na so dem carry am comot on top stretcher inside di first half.

As Portugal captain, e get to watch most of di final from di sidelines. But Portugal eventually win 1-0 after extra time to claim dia first European Championship trophy.

4. Euro 2024 Disappointment

Euro 2024 also bring another difficult experience for Ronaldo, as he no score any goal throughout di competition.

During Portugal round-of-16 match against Slovenia, Ronaldo miss penarity for extra time and dat one make am spoil face, comot water for eye.

Portugal eventually win di penarity shootout, but dia journey end for quarter-final after dem lose to France through penarity again.

Di tournament kon bring some kain questions about whether Ronaldo sti fit lead Portugal attack.

From Number 17 To Number 7

Ronaldo make him senior debut for Portugal when e be 18 years old, for friendly match against Kazakhstan.

He enter di match for second half to replace Luis Figo and wear number 17 jersey because Figo dey use number 7 at di time.

Na after Figo retire for 2006 World Cup, nain Ronaldo take over di famous number 7 jersey, wey later become one of di biggest football brands in di world, CR7.

Di Record Wey Ronaldo Get For Portugal

Ronaldo dey leave Portugal with 234 international appearances and 146 goals, making am di highest-scoring male international footballer for history.

He also hold di record as di most-capped male international player.

Some of im major records include:

• He don score for Portugal for 23 consecutive calendar years, from 2004 to 2026.
• He become Portugal highest goal scorer for World Cup history, with 11 goals for 27 tournament appearances.
• He become di first male footballer to reach 200 international appearances during Portugal match against Iceland for 2024 European Championship qualifiers.
• He become di first European player to score 100 international goals.
• He become di first player to score 10 international hat-tricks.
• He hold di record for most European Championship appearances, with 30 matches across six tournaments.
• He become di highest goal scorer for European Championship history, with 14 goals.

Beyond individual records, Ronaldo hellep Portugal achieve major success for international football.

Under im leadership as captain, Portugal win dia first major international trophy for Euro 2016. Dem later win UEFA Nations League for 2019 and 2025.

Before Ronaldo international career start, Portugal don only qualify for three World Cup tournaments: 1966, 1986 and 2002. But during him time with di national team, Portugal qualify for every World Cup edition.

Di same thing happun for European Championship. Before Ronaldo, Portugal don only appear for three editions, but since im arrival, dem qualify for every tournament.

Ronaldo also become di oldest player to score for a World Cup knockout match, at di age of 41 years and 147 days.

Wetin Be Di Next Plan For Cristiano Ronaldo?

Ronaldo retirement from international football no mean say e don retire from professional football completely.

At 41, di forward fit still continue im club career, where e go get more opportunity to manage im playing time without di additional pressure of international matches.

For 23 years, Ronaldo wear Portugal jersey, break records, win trophies and hellep di country become one of di major forces for international football.

Even though di final chapter of him international career come with controversy, him achievements and contributions to Portuguese football go remain part of history.