The international soccer stage has now lost both of its greatest modern talents. One month after Lionel Messi concluded his career with Argentina’s national team, Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo announced Thursday that he too is retiring from international competition, closing a remarkable chapter that spanned more than two decades.
Ronaldo first pulled on Portugal’s national jersey in August 2003 as an eighteen-year-old prospect. In the years since, he has established himself not merely as his country’s finest player, but as the most prolific performer in the history of men’s international soccer. His record speaks with unmistakable clarity: 234 appearances for Portugal, more than any male player has made for any nation, and 146 goals, a mark that stands alone at the pinnacle of the sport.
The conclusion of Ronaldo’s international career, however, did not follow the script many had envisioned. After starting in Portugal’s 1-0 victory over Wales in the Nations League on September 24, a match that has now become his final appearance for his country, the forty-one-year-old forward found himself relegated to the bench for the subsequent contest against Norway. When Portugal manager Jorge Jesus made clear his intention to keep Ronaldo out of the starting lineup for the upcoming match against Denmark, the veteran striker departed the training camp.
In his retirement statement, Ronaldo offered a window into what representing Portugal has meant to him throughout these many years. His words carried the weight of genuine emotion, focusing not on statistics or trophies, but on the singular moments before each match when the national anthem would play.
"To every Portuguese person around the world, wherever you are in the world, there is one last thing I want to tell you," Ronaldo wrote. "There is an image I will carry with me forever. The moment our national anthem begins. I look around. I see my teammates. I see the stands. I see the children, the mothers, the fathers and the grandparents. I see Portuguese people who have travelled so far just to be there. And for a few minutes, all our differences disappear."
He continued, "There are no clubs, there are no colours, there are no classes, there are no professions, there are no opinions. There is only one passion: Portugal."
Ronaldo’s career with Portugal has been nothing short of extraordinary. His legacy includes leading his nation to its first major tournament victory at the 2016 European Championship, a triumph that had eluded Portugal throughout its history. That accomplishment alone would have secured his place in his country’s sporting pantheon.
While Ronaldo steps away from international competition, he will continue playing for his club team, Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, through the end of the current season. The sport now moves forward without the two players who have defined an era, leaving fans to wonder whether we shall see their like again.
And that is the way it is.
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