Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a record-breaking Portugal career that began in 2003. He leaves with 234 caps and 146 goals, both world records, but his departure has been overshadowed by a dispute with manager Jorge Jesus.
A Record-Breaking Career Ends in Acrimony
Ronaldo's final act for Portugal was to sit as an unused substitute during a Nations League match against Norway in Oslo. He subsequently left the squad and engaged in a war of words with Jesus, a battle he has now lost.
The announcement came via a social media post confirming he would never pull on a Portugal shirt again, rather than the grand farewell many had anticipated. This stands in stark contrast to the emotional exit of his rival Lionel Messi, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022 and led his team to another final before making his last international appearance in Buenos Aires.
A Decline Marked by Frustration
At 41, Ronaldo was no longer deserving of a place in his own team, according to the report. He had become a hindrance to those around him, playing for himself in a flawed mission to become the first player to score 1,000 career goals.
At the last two World Cups, Portugal indulged him, and the result was that one of the most talented groups of players failed badly on both occasions. Ronaldo could not let go, resembling a prize fighter who had taken too many blows.
His obsession with the spotlight and an ego with no bounds have damaged his legacy. Bookmakers are already offering odds on him replacing Jesus as Portugal's next manager.
A Legacy of Greatness
Despite the sadness of his fall, Ronaldo made an immense contribution in his prime. He helped Portugal win the Euros in 2016 and two Nations League titles, dazzled for more than a decade, and scored some breathtaking goals.
He was and remains one of the greatest players of all time. It is a shame he could not accept sooner what everyone else had managed to.
