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Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced his retirement from international football on Thursday, drawing the curtain on a monumental 23-year career with the Portugal national team. The 41-year-old superstar confirmed his decision in an emotional video message posted to his Instagram account.
In the video, Ronaldo revealed that he will step away from duty following the upcoming international break. The announcement marks the conclusion of one of the most remarkable international runs in sports history, leaving Portugal to transition into a new era without their iconic leader and long-serving captain.
Ronaldo leaves international football as its standard-bearer, holding the all-time men’s records for both international goals and caps. Having made his senior debut for the team in 2003 as an 18-year-old prospect, he went on to represent his country at five World Cups and six European Championships, scoring an unprecedented 146 goals in 234 appearances.
The peak of his international career came in 2016, when he captained Portugal to their first major international trophy at UEFA Euro 2016 in France, followed three years later by victory in the inaugural 2019 UEFA Nations League tournament.
