Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the Portugal national team after 23 years, 234 matches and 146 goals
On 5 November, Cristiano Ronaldo announced that he will no longer play for the Portugal national team. The 41-year-old forward posted a video on social media in which he reads a letter to the Portuguese people: "The day has come to hand back the national team's number 7 shirt. I never thought of it as mine alone" (Observador). He will carry on playing for the Saudi club Al Nassr.
Ronaldo first played for the national team in August 2003. Since then he has played 234 matches for Portugal and scored 146 goals (Jornal de Negócios). In the letter he recalls victories and defeats, and also the people in the stands: "I see immigrants who, for 90 minutes, felt Portugal was a little closer."
The video says nothing about his reasons. Ronaldo announced his decision the day before the national team coach, Jorge Jesus, is due to name the squad for the Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales on 6 November; according to Observador, Ronaldo was to be included. In early October he left the training camp after a row with Jesus and was given a one-month ban, which ended on 30 October (Observador).
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro responded to Ronaldo: "What you have done will echo in eternity" (Observador). The President of the Republic also thanked him, and the Portuguese Football Federation wrote: "Thank you for everything, captain!"
