Following a reported falling out with new head coach Jorge Jesus, Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international duty. The 41-year-old forward allegedly finalized this irreversible decision after a meeting with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, subsequently departing the national team’s training camp.
Reports indicate that Ronaldo felt sidelined after being relegated to the bench during Portugal’s victory against Norway earlier this week. His final appearance for the national side occurred last week in a 1-0 win over Wales, a match he started and played for just over an hour, during which he had a goal disallowed. He has reportedly expressed that he no longer envisions a future with the squad. According to a report in OJogo, Ronaldo has decided not to play for the national side again. He does not see a future with the side and has opted to step away.
Over the course of his illustrious international career, Ronaldo earned 234 caps and scored 146 goals for his country. His tenure was highlighted by two UEFA Nations League titles and the historic 2016 UEFA Euros victory. While he has confirmed the decision on social media, the legendary striker continues to pursue his personal goal of reaching 1,000 career strikes, leaving him just 21 goals shy of that milestone.
This development follows comments made by the player to VOGUE earlier this summer, where he hinted that he was approaching his final season in professional football. Recently married to his long-term partner, Georgina Rodriguez, Ronaldo appears to be prioritizing the next chapter of his life despite his long-standing ambition to reach the four-figure goal tally.
