Ronaldo retires from Portugal after coach fall-out
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football after 23 years, following a fallout with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus and a recent 30-day suspension for walking out of the national team.
- Ronaldo holds the records for most goals (146) and appearances (234) for Portugal, having captained the team to Euro 2016 and UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
- Despite apologizing to teammates, Ronaldo did not apologize to coach Jorge Jesus, accusing him of breaking promises regarding playing time, which contributed to his decision to retire.
- The Portuguese Football Federation expressed deep gratitude and admiration for Ronaldo's career, promising a fitting tribute and highlighting his impact on Portuguese football and global recognition.
- Ronaldo will continue playing at club level with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia as he pursues his 1,000th career goal, currently standing at 985 goals across all competitions.
