Rome, 5 Nov. (LaPresse/AP) – Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he will no longer play for Portugal, bringing to an end a career that saw him take part in six World Cups, win a European Championship and become the all-time leading goalscorer in the history of national teams. The announcement marks the end of a celebrated career, which began over twenty years ago, ahead of the 2004 European Championships, and concluded with his departure from the national team following a falling-out with manager Jorge Jesus. “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” said the 41-year-old Ronaldo in a lengthy video message posted on social media. “I never thought it belonged solely to me, but for 23 years I’ve had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it and taking it with me to stadiums all over the world. Today, the time has come to pass it on to the future. It wasn’t an easy decision, because some choices aren’t made with the head alone. They’re also made with the heart. A journey that began in August 2003, and which changed my life forever, has now come to an end.”
CR7 retires from the Portugal national team
Rome, 5 Nov. (LaPresse/AP) – Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he will no longer play for Portugal, bringing to an end a career that saw him take part in six World Cups, win a European Championship and become the all-time leading goalscorer in the history of national teams. The announcement marks the end of a celebrated career, which began over twenty years ago, ahead of the 2004 European Championships, and concluded with his departure from the national team following a falling-out with manager Jorge Jesus. “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” said the 41-year-old Ronaldo in a lengthy video message posted on social media. “I never thought it belonged solely to me, but for 23 years I’ve had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it and taking it with me to stadiums all over the world. Today, the time has come to pass it on to the future. It wasn’t an easy decision, because some choices aren’t made with the head alone. They’re also made with the heart. A journey that began in August 2003, and which changed my life forever, has now come to an end.”