Cristiano Ronaldo won’t play for Portugal anymore, ending on Thursday a career that spanned six World Cups and included a European title and the men’s all-time international scoring record.
asserted
that → play → title
His announcement marked the end of a lauded career that began more than two decades ago before Euro 2004 and finished with him walking out on the national team after falling out with coach Jorge Jesus.
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him → mark → Jesus
“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team,” the 41-year-old Ronaldo said in a long video message on social media.
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Ronaldo → come → media
“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.
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I → feel → world
“Today the time has come to pass it on to the future.
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time → come → future
It was not an easy decision because some decisions are not made with the mind alone.
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decisions → make → mind
They are also made with the heart.
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They → make → heart
A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end.”
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that → begin → end
Ronaldo will keep playing at club level, which he is expected to finish at the end of this season with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
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he → keep → Arabia
He is in pursuit of his 1,000th career goal and sits on 985.
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He → sit → 985
Of those, a record 146 goals came in 234 appearances with Portugal.
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goals → come → Portugal
Portugal plans tribute to ‘greatest of all time’
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Portugal → plan → time
While long-time peer Lionel Messi finished his career with Argentina last month after a much anticipated farewell match, Ronaldo’s final appearance with Portugal has ended up being on Sept. 24 in a 1-0 home win over Wales in the Nations League.
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appearance → finish → League
Jesus kept him on the bench for the following match and said he didn’t plan to start him in the next one, so Ronaldo decided to leave the team’s training camp.
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Ronaldo → keep → camp
Jesus later said Ronaldo would be welcome back and the decision to return was up to him.
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decision → say → him
The Portuguese soccer federation released a statement expressing “deep gratitude and immense admiration” for Ronaldo’s service to the country.
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federation → release → country
“Cristiano Ronaldo has raised Portugal’s profile and inspired generations of young people who dream of following in his footsteps; for many of us, he is the greatest player of all time!” the federation said.
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federation → raise → time
It said it intends to organize a tribute to Ronaldo “in which the fans and the country can one more time applaud and celebrate a player who has given us so much.”
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who → say → much
Ronaldo helps Portugal reach new level
Before Ronaldo debuted for Portugal by replacing Luís Figo in a 2003 friendly against Kazakhstan, Portugal had never won any major trophies.
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Portugal → help → trophies
Then he and successive generations of talented teammates made Portugal a regular presence at major tournaments.
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Portugal → make → tournaments
Portugal won its first major title at Euro 2016, and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
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Portugal → win → 2019
“Throughout my entire career with the national team, I always pushed myself beyond my limits,” Ronaldo said.
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Ronaldo → push → limits
“I wanted to win.
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I → want → ?
I wanted to be better.
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I → want → ?
I wanted to make history.
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I → want → history
“I always demanded the most of myself.
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I → demand → myself
I always wanted more.
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I → want → more
I always believed we could go further.
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we → believe → ?
And I gave everything I had for this shirt.”
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I → give → shirt
Portugal qualified for the World Cup only three times before Ronaldo’s time — 1966, 1986 and 2002.
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Portugal → qualify → time
On his watch, Portugal qualified every single time.
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Portugal → qualify → watch
The same was true for the Euros, which Portugal had played only three times before Ronaldo — 1984, 1996 and 2000.
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Portugal → play → Ronaldo
After he arrived it played in the tournament every time.
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it → arrive → tournament
At the World Cup, Portugal went as far as fourth place with Ronaldo, in his tournament debut in 2006.
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Portugal → go → 2006
There were victories I will never forget.
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I → be → ?
There were defeats that still hurt to remember,” Ronaldo
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that → be → ?
“I made mistakes.
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I → make → mistakes
I suffered.
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I → suffer → ?
There were also moments when I couldn’t give the Portuguese people what they so desperately wanted.
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they → be → what
But I never gave up, I never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal.”
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I → give → Portugal
…and 13 more, not listed.
The Aporia
