Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, ending a 23-year association with Portugal’s national team after a falling-out with coach Jorge Jesus.
Ronaldo, 41, leaves as the men’s national team’s all-time leader in goals (146) and appearances (234).
In a video posted on Instagram, he said the time had come to return the No. 7 shirt to the Portuguese people, adding that he had never felt it belonged to him alone.
He said he had been privileged to wear it for 23 years, defending it and carrying it to stadiums around the world, and that the time had come to pass it on to the future. He described the decision as one made not only with the head but also with the heart.
The announcement comes a day before Jesus names his squad for Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales, and follows a 30-day suspension Ronaldo is serving for walking out on the national team.