Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday in a video that he has played his last game for the Portugal national team. In this video, Ronaldo told Portuguese fans: "The day has come for me to pass the number seven of the national team to others."
Ronaldo's Professional Journey
Ronaldo, who is 41 years old, referred to his 23 years with the national team in this video and said: "I never felt that this number belonged to me, but I had the honor and responsibility to wear it. I carried this number in stadiums around the world."
Ronaldo is recognized as the record holder for national games and goals in men's football with 234 games and 146 goals. He led the Portugal national team to its first major championship at Euro 2016 and also secured the Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
Emotions and Farewell
Ronaldo added: "This decision was not easy and was not made solely with reason, but also with heart." He thanked his fans and said: "If I ever made you happy and one of my goals made someone hug or forget their worries, then it was all worth it."
The Portuguese Football Federation also expressed gratitude to Ronaldo as a player who has introduced the country to the world, stating: "Cristiano Ronaldo is an inspiration for young generations who aspire to follow him; he is the greatest player in history for many of us!"
The Portuguese Football Federation announced plans to hold a ceremony to honor Ronaldo so that fans and the country can pay their respects to him once again. Ronaldo's last game may be linked to Portugal's 1-0 victory over Wales on September 24. Portugal's head coach, Jorge Jesus, benched him in subsequent games and stated that he would not start in the next match.
Following this incident, Ronaldo left the Portugal training camp and was fined and suspended for this action, but he is expected to return to Portugal for the international break in November. Like Lionel Messi, Ronaldo intends to continue his club career with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
