Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to his 23-year career with the national team.
The 41-year-old five-time Ballon d'Or winner announced his decision in a statement on social media on Thursday (November 5).
In his statement, Ronaldo said it was time to hand Portugal's iconic No. 7 jersey over to the next generation.
"The time has come to pass the national team's No. 7 shirt on to the next generation. This shirt was never just mine. But for 23 years, I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it to stadiums across the world," he said.
Acknowledging that the decision had not been easy, Ronaldo added: "Some decisions cannot be made with the head alone; the heart also has a role to play."
His international journey began in August 2003 and, according to his announcement, the chapter that changed his life forever has now come to an end.
