Cristiano Ronaldo Bids Farewell to the Portugal National Team

Portuguese star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo announced that he has ended his career with the Portugal national team. In a post on his social media account, the 41-year-old said the time had come to pass the number 7 shirt on to the future.

Ronaldo said the journey that began in 2003 had changed his life forever. He said that what he saw with the national team were not the matches, goals and trophies, but the people. He stated that the decision was not easy and that some decisions are made with the heart as well.

Ronaldo, who has played 234 matches and scored 146 goals for Portugal, holds the records for the most appearances in a national team jersey and the most goals scored for a national team by a male player. Five times he has been named Ballon d'Or winner, and with Portugal he won the 2016 European Championship and the UEFA Nations League twice.

Ronaldo's last match for the national team was the September UEFA Nations League game in which Portugal beat Wales 1-0. A player who did not get playing time in the Nations League match where Portugal beat Norway 2-1 had left the national team camp. The disciplinary board fined him 255 euros and gave him a 30-day ban. In his statement, Ronaldo apologized to his teammates and said he would not quit the national team.