Federation announces honor for Ronaldo

Ronaldo's national team career ended after the crisis with Jesus at the Portugal national team. The 41-year-old star had announced in a statement on his social media account that he was leaving the national team.

The Portuguese Football Federation, which had punished Ronaldo, announced that the goalscorer will be honored for his contributions to the national team. Federation President Pedro Proença thanked Ronaldo and said he is the best Portuguese footballer in history. Proença said they would do everything they could to honor the legacy he leaves behind.

Jesus, at his latest press conference, said he thought Ronaldo would return and that he had considered contacting him or calling him up to the national team. Saying he respected Ronaldo's decision, Jesus stated that he had no regrets about the decisions he made with the team in mind.

Ronaldo had left the national team camp at the end of September without permission from the coaching staff and never returned. As the reason for leaving, he had cited Jesus not keeping his promises. The federation gave Ronaldo, who left the camp without permission, a 30-day loss of rights and a fine of 255 euros. Having played 234 matches in the Portugal shirt, Ronaldo had entered national team history with 146 goals.

Ronaldo announced that he had handed back the number 7 shirt he wore for the national team for 23 years. Saying the journey that began in August 2003 had come to an end, Ronaldo said he remembers people more than matches, and that when the national anthem begins, Portuguese people unite around a single passion.