The Portuguese Football Federation has pledged to formally honour Cristiano Ronaldo after the 41-year-old captain announced his retirement from international football via social media, bringing an end to a remarkable 234-appearance career that yielded 146 goals.
Key Takeaways: Cristiano Ronaldo officially retired from international duty at age 41; newly appointed manager Jorge Jesus named his first squad without the iconic captain, immediately facing intense scrutiny over an alleged rift.
Portuguese FA president Pedro Proenca stated that no tribute would ever be enough to thank Ronaldo for his immense contribution to the nation's footballing history. While federation officials promised to celebrate his legacy, it remains entirely unconfirmed whether the veteran forward will agree to a formal farewell appearance following the abrupt nature of his departure.
The squad announcement was heavily overshadowed by lingering questions regarding Ronaldo's controversial exit in late September, when he allegedly left the team's training camp without permission ahead of a Nations League fixture against Denmark. The player reportedly cited broken promises from manager Jorge Jesus as the catalyst for his exit, though the coach appeared visibly frustrated when pressed by journalists during Friday's press conference.
Jesus claimed he was completely unaware of Ronaldo's retirement intentions until the public announcement, insisting that his tactical decisions were strictly made with the team's best interests at heart. As the European regime attempts to move forward, Jesus has selected seven new faces—including five under-21 players—for the upcoming Nations League matches against Wales and Denmark, signaling a troubled transitional phase for the national squad.
Source: www.aljazeera.com