Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, ending a Portugal career that produced 146 goals in 234 appearances. The 41-year-old confirmed the decision in a video posted to social media, according to Goal.com. His last match for Portugal was September's 1-0 Nations League win over Wales.
The retirement follows a dispute with Portugal manager Jorge Jesus over playing time during the September international break. Jesus has now spoken publicly about the split, telling reporters he had asked Ronaldo to remain with the squad.
Why it matters
Ronaldo leaves as Portugal's all-time leading scorer and a two-time senior international winner, having lifted both the European Championship and the Nations League. His exit removes the country's most recognizable player from the squad as Portugal continue their Nations League campaign. It also closes a chapter that had been in question since Portugal's World Cup exit in the summer, when Jesus persuaded Ronaldo to hold off on retiring.
How the September break broke down
The trouble began after the Wales match. According to Goal.com, Ronaldo was left on the bench as an unused substitute in the following fixture against Norway. He said Jesus had promised him at least 30 minutes on the pitch despite asking him to warm up. The disagreement deepened when Jesus did not publicly explain the decision, saying team selection was his responsibility alone. Ronaldo then declined to train and left the squad before the Denmark match.
Jesus, speaking after the retirement was confirmed, praised Ronaldo's contribution. "Cris is a global icon — for Portugal and the national team," he said, according to Goal.com. He noted that he had spent a year with Ronaldo at Al Nassr and said a large photograph of the player had been hung in the auditorium. "It is his decision," Jesus said.
The coach also said he had raised the subject before naming his first squad. "We had already spoken about this before the first squad announcement. I asked him to stay on with me because I needed him by my side, but I have to accept his decision," he said. Jesus added that Ronaldo would remain "an icon of Portuguese football."
His public position had been consistent. Last month, he said Ronaldo should decide for himself how his international career ended, and that he had told the player he needed him close by whether he was playing or not.
What comes next
Portugal resume their Nations League schedule later this month with fixtures against Denmark and Wales, their first matches without their record scorer. Ronaldo, meanwhile, turns to club football with Al Nassr, though he missed the club's AFC Champions League trip to Uzbekistan over security concerns, according to Goal.com.
