Cristiano Ronaldo has officially concluded his international career with Portugal, bringing an end to a 23-year tenure that was marked by record-setting achievements and a recent period of public friction. The forward, who is now 41 years old, retired from the national team after a dispute with manager Jorge Jesus, who took over from Roberto Martinez. The split was precipitated by Jesus managing Ronaldo's playing minutes during last month's UEFA Nations League matches, leading the striker to leave the squad in a private jet in protest. As a result, Ronaldo received a 30-day suspension and a nominal fine, and he announced his retirement just one day before Jesus was scheduled to name the squad for upcoming fixtures.
The departure was viewed by many as a messy conclusion to a glorious history. While the very best athletes are often advised to leave while still at their peak, Ronaldo's final years were characterized by mockery and ridicule rather than the affection shown to his rival Lionel Messi. Many observers felt that Ronaldo had become a hindrance to Martinez's team, with his advanced age and reduced work rate seen as diminishing Portugal's chances on the pitch. This perception contrasted sharply with his earlier years, when he was a dominant force and a central asset to the national side.
At his peak, Ronaldo was arguably the most dangerous player in the world. He possessed incredible pace, a rapid step-over, and immense physical strength that allowed him to score headers from impossible heights. He was also a cold-eyed finisher and the world's best from free kicks, a skill famously demonstrated during a 3-3 draw with Spain at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Between 2004 and 2018, his performances were sensationally good, and it is this version of the player that fans and analysts hope will define his legacy once the memory of his later struggles fades.
Ronaldo's statistical legacy is secure. He holds the record for the most international goals with 146, a tally that is likely to stand for a long time. His nearest competitors are Belgium's Romelu Lukaku with 94 goals, Poland's Robert Lewandowski with 92, and England's Harry Kane with 91. Additionally, Ronaldo holds the record for the most international appearances with 234, ahead of Messi who has 208. These figures are a testament to his incredible longevity, as his first and last international goals were separated by 22 years.
The cracks in his international career began to show at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo scored only once in the tournament and was eventually dropped by coach Fernando Santos. The decision was highlighted when his replacement, Goncalo Ramos, scored a hat trick against Switzerland, suggesting that Ronaldo had reached the end of his road. However, he continued under Martinez, playing at Euro 2024 without scoring a single goal. He remained in the squad for this year's World Cup, where he declared "I'm back!" after scoring twice against Uzbekistan, despite being a shadow of his former self.
Ronaldo's presence helped lift Portugal into the bracket of European heavyweight nations. Before his debut in 2003, Portugal had qualified for only three World Cups and three Euros. During his career, the team has never missed qualification, reaching six tournaments of each type. He was instrumental in inspiring Portugal to victory at Euro 2016, where he famously directed the team from the touchline after suffering an early injury in the final against France. His contributions in the earlier rounds were crucial to Portugal reaching the final, even though he missed most of that decisive match.
The modern Portugal squad is now deep in talent, featuring individual stars such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Joao Neves, Pedro Neto, Vitinha, and Nuno Mendes. This depth has made them one of the most formidable international sides in the world, reducing their reliance on a single aging star. While a peak Ronaldo would certainly make Portugal a World Cup favorite, the current team structure suggests they no longer require the specific version of the player that existed in the 2020s.
Jorge Jesus was correct to begin his tenure without the forward, identifying that an older Ronaldo was no longer the great force of the past. However, the player took longer than necessary to realize that his time had passed. Ultimately, football history will likely remember the very best of Cristiano Ronaldo, the dominant force who broke records and led his nation to glory, rather than the version who struggled to accept the passage of time.
