Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football following a fall-out with Portugal boss Jorge Jesus. The 41-year-old is Portugal's leading goalscorer with 146 goals in 234 appearances, having won the European Championship in 2016. Ronaldo left the Portuguese training camp during the last international break after not featuring in a 2-1 Nations League win against Norway.
He was subsequently suspended and fined after explaining his exit, accusing Jesus of breaking promises. In a heated exchange, Ronaldo claimed he was told to warm up before being benched. On the eve of Portugal's next Nations League squad announcement, Ronaldo confirmed his retirement via social media, stating it was time to pass the No. 7 jersey to the future.
The Portuguese federation released a statement expressing "deep gratitude and immense admiration" for Ronaldo's service, calling him the greatest player of all time and planning a tribute. Ronaldo's 23-year international career ended with emotional reflections on connecting with Portuguese people worldwide, noting football is "so much bigger than a game.".
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing