Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football.
The 41-year-old has opted to leave after a huge row with national team coach Jorge Jesus during the last international break.
Ronaldo left the squad in Copenhagen on the eve of their Nations League clash with Denmark after being benched for the previous game against Norway. He was fined 255 euros (£215; $286) and given a 30-day ban by the Portuguese Football Federation.
It was expected that conciliatory talks would resolve the situation and he would return for the upcoming matches with Denmark and Wales, but has decided to leave the international game.
“The day has come to give me back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” he added. he said in a statement on Instagram. “I never felt that it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and responsibility of carrying it, defending it and taking it with me to stadiums around the world.
“Today the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision. Because some decisions are not made only with the mind. They are also made with the heart. They are not made with the mind.”
“A journey that started in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end. When I look back at everything with the national team, I don’t just see the games, the goals, the records or the trophies.
“I see people. I see Portuguese people living abroad who, for 90 minutes, felt a little closer to home. I see millions of Portuguese people who I have never met but who were part of my life. Because at the end of the day, football is much bigger than a game. Football is about people.”
Record-breaking Ronaldo retires for Portugal
Ronaldo leaves having made the most international appearances in history (234) and scoring the most goals (146).
He made his international debut in 2003 and led Portugal to the 2016 European Championship as well as two Nations League titles.
And he added: “Throughout my career with the national team I have always pushed myself beyond my limits. I wanted to win, I wanted to be better, I wanted to make history. I have always demanded the maximum. I have always wanted more. I have always believed that we could go further. And I gave everything I had for this shirt.”
“There have been perfect afternoons and nights. There have been victories that I will never forget. There have been defeats that still hurt to remember.
“I was wrong. I suffered. There were also times when I couldn’t give the Portuguese people what they so desperately wanted. But I never gave up. And above all, I never stopped being proud to represent Portugal.”
“Over the years, I’ve learned a few very simple things: goals fade away. Trophies end up in museums. Records end up being broken. But there’s one thing time can never erase: the place we hold in people’s hearts. If I ever made you happy, if one of my goals ever made you hug someone, forget a worry, or feel proud of your country’s suffering, it’s also worth it. the pity. together we rise again.
“Portugal will always need young people who dare to dream. Players who never give up. New generations who believe it is possible to go where no one has gone before. Because a country that continues to create new heroes is a country that never stops believing in itself.”
Ronaldo’s last appearance for Portugal came in September against Wales.
He will now focus his efforts on club affairs with Al-Nassr of the Saudi Pro League, with whom he won the title last season.