OMM Newsroom
Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he is ending his career with the Portugal national team. In a video posted on social media, he said it was time to pass the No. 7 shirt and captain’s armband on to future generations.
Ronaldo said the shirt had brought him both honour and responsibility over 23 years. Recalling that his journey with Portugal began in August 2003, he said the decision was not easy and that it involved not only his head but also his heart.
“Football is about people”
Looking back on his years with the national team, Ronaldo said he remembered not only the matches, goals, records and trophies, but also the people. He said Portugal’s matches had helped emigrants living outside the country feel closer to it, while millions of Portuguese people had become part of his life.
The footballer said he had always tried to win, be the best and make history, giving everything for the shirt. He said his career had brought unforgettable victories, painful defeats and setbacks, and that at times he had failed to meet the nation’s expectations, but had never given up.
Ronaldo said goals, trophies and records eventually fade into the past, while the place he holds in people’s hearts will not be erased. He added that Portugal would need new heroes and young players who dream of reaching the top.
