London: Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the great players of the football world, has surprised all the fans by announcing his retirement from international football. Ronaldo released a video on social media on Thursday (05 November) and informed about his sudden decision. Ronaldo, who made many historical records in his illustrious 23-year career, could never win the FIFA World Cup in his career, and with this regret he has decided to put an end to his international career.
What did Ronaldo say in the video?
“To the Portuguese people, the day has come to return the No. 7 jersey of our national team. I never thought it would be mine alone. But for 23 years, I have had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, protecting it and taking it with me to stadiums around the world. Today, the time has come to pass it on to the next generation. This was no easy decision,” Ronaldo said in an emotional video shared on social media.
‘Football is more than just a game’
Reminiscing about his journey, Ronaldo further said, “Because there are some decisions that are taken not just with the head, but with the heart. A journey is coming to an end that started in August 2003 and which changed my life forever. When I look back and think about my experiences with the national team, I don’t just see the games, the goals, the records or the trophies. I see the people. I see those immigrants. Who felt a little closer to Portugal for 90 minutes. I see millions of Portuguese people whom I have never met in person, but who have been a part of my life, because after all, football is more than just a game.”
‘Given everything for this jersey’
The Portugal legend said, “Throughout my career with the national team, I tried to push my limits. I wanted to win, I wanted to be the best, I wanted to make history. I always had high expectations of myself. I always wanted more, I always believed we could go further. And I gave everything for this jersey.”
He further shared his feelings, saying, “There were some wonderful afternoons and nights. There were victories that I will never forget. There were also defeats that still hurt to remember. I saw failures, I suffered, and there were moments when I could not give the people of Portugal what they wanted so much. But I never gave up. And most of all, I always felt proud to represent Portugal.”
Such was the brilliant international career of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career has been unmatched. He scored a total for Portugal 234 matches played, in which their names 146 goals Are registered.
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Debut: Ronaldo made his international debut on 20 August 2003 against Kazakhstan.
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First goal: He scored his first international goal for Portugal in 2004 against Greece.