Cristiano Ronaldo retires: 41-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner draws curtains on Portuguese national team career
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from Portuguese national team on Thursday, the current Al Nassr forward announced in a social media post. The 41-year-old said that he would “hand back the number 7 shirt” after the November international break. Ronaldo has made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals.
He holds the all-time record for international appearances and for international goals. Ronaldo fell out with Portugal national coach Jorge Jesus last month after he refused to use him in a Nations League match and left the team camp.
Ronaldo led Portugal to Euro 2016 glory and signed off as international football’s all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player, with 146 goals in 234 appearances.
The 41-year-old said that he would ‘hand back the number 7 shirt’ after the November international break.
“To the Portuguese. The time has come to hang up the number 7 of our national team. I never felt it was exclusively mine, but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it,” he said.
The 41-year-old was the pillar for Portugal over the two decades when they won Euros and two UEFA Nations League titles. He played six World Cups for Portugal while his last ended in 1-0 defeat by Spain in the round of 16.
