Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo on Thursday announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious 23-year career with the national team, during which he established himself as one of the most accomplished players in the history of the game.Cristiano Ronaldo, who made his international debut in August 2003 as a substitute against Kazakhstan, announced his decision through a video message shared on Instagram, reflecting on his journey with Portugal and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to represent his country.In an emotional farewell message, the Portugal captain said it was time to hand over the iconic number 7 shirt to the next generation, describing his international career as a journey that had changed his life forever.
“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our National Team. I never felt it belonged to me alone. But for 23 years, I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it, and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world. Today, the time has come to pass it on to the future,” he said.“It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart. A journey that began in August 2003, and changed my life forever, has come to an end,” the Al-Nassr striker added.
