Cristiano Ronaldo announced Thursday that he will no longer play for the Portuguese national soccer team, concluding a decorated international career. The forward, who has been a prominent figure in global soccer for over two decades, made the announcement via a social media video message.
Ronaldo's international tenure began before Euro 2004 and included six World Cup appearances. He holds the men's all-time international scoring record. In his statement, the 41-year-old expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to represent Portugal.
"To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team," Ronaldo said. "I never felt it belonged to me alone but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world."
The announcement follows a reported falling out with coach Jorge Jesus, according to the New York Post. Ronaldo's departure marks the end of an era for Portuguese football, leaving a significant void in the national team.