Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football. In a long video message posted to his Instagram account, the 41-year-old Portuguese superstar stated that the day has come for him to hand back the number 7 shirt of the national team. He noted that he would hand back the shirt after the November international break.
Ronaldo ends a career that spanned six World Cups and included a European title. He holds the all-time records for both international appearances and international goals, having made 234 appearances for Portugal and scoring 146 goals.
The announcement follows a fall-out and public spat with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus over playing time. Ronaldo had been benched by Jesus, marking another high-profile row in the footballing legend's career.