Cristiano Ronaldo has officially concluded his international football career, announcing his retirement from the Portugal national team on Thursday. The decision marks the end of a 23-year tenure with his country, bringing a close to one of the most celebrated careers in the sport. At 41 years old, the forward for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr steps away from the national stage with a legacy that includes holding the world records for both appearances and goals scored for a single nation.
During his time representing Portugal, Ronaldo earned 234 caps and scored 146 goals. These figures stand as global records in international football. As team captain, he played a pivotal role in several major victories, most notably guiding Portugal to the title at Euro 2016. He also contributed to the national team's success in the UEFA Nations League, securing titles in both 2019 and 2025.
The announcement follows a period of significant tension between Ronaldo and Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus. The friction became public several weeks ago, culminating in Ronaldo's departure from the squad in September. This strained relationship appears to have been a primary factor in his decision to step down from international duty, ending an era defined by his long-standing presence in the national setup.
Beyond the headline news of Ronaldo's retirement, a busy week of European club and league competitions provided additional highlights for fans. In the Europa League, Olympique de Marseille returned to winning form after a 1-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. The match was decided by a goal from Amine Gouiri, which proved sufficient to secure the points for the French side.
Lyon also featured in the Europa League, playing away at Real Sociedad in a match that ended in a 1-1 draw. The captain, Corentin Tolisso, was responsible for Lyon's equalizer, ensuring the team left with a share of the spoils from the contest. Meanwhile, in the Conference League, AS Monaco continued its perfect start to the campaign, recording a third win in as many matches.
Monaco achieved this milestone with a 2-0 victory over the Danish club Nordsjaelland. The result underscores the team's strong form in European competition. In basketball, the EuroLeague saw Paris Basketball defeat Anadolu Efes with a final score of 95-90. The victory was powered by a standout performance from Nadir Hifi, who contributed 28 points and 9 assists to lead the French team to success.
Another French club, ASVEL, suffered a setback in the same league, losing 95-99 to Bayern Munich. The result highlights the competitive nature of the current EuroLeague season for French basketball teams. In the realm of youth athletics, the Summer Youth Olympics produced notable results for French competitors, with Mady Sow winning a silver medal in badminton.
Mana Ishikawa added to the medal count by claiming her fourth gold medal in swimming events. In tennis, the Rolex Paris Masters saw several French players exit the tournament in the last 16 round. Arthur Fils was eliminated by Taylor Fritz, losing the match 6-3, 6-4. Quentin Halys and Arthur Rinderknech also faced elimination at this stage of the competition.
Despite these losses, one French player advanced to the quarter-finals. Luca Van Assche secured his spot by defeating Lorenzo Musetti in a three-set match with a scoreline of 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. His victory makes him the only remaining French representative in the final eight of the tournament.
