‘He carried Portugal’ – Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement divides fans after 23 years
Key Takeaways
- The 41-year-old ended his Portugal career with 146 goals in 234 appearances, both men's international records.
- Some supporters believe Ronaldo should have retired earlier, while others praise his contribution and call for a proper farewell.
- His retirement followed disagreements over playing time and a 30-day suspension after leaving Portugal's national team camp.
Some Portuguese supporters say Ronaldo should have retired earlier, while others defend his legacy and demand a proper farewell for the country's record goalscorer.
Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to retire from international football has sparked mixed reactions among Portuguese fans, with some praising his contribution to the national team and others questioning why he did not leave earlier.
The 41-year-old announced his retirement on Thursday, bringing an end to a 23-year international career during which he scored 146 goals in 234 appearances, both records in men's international football.
In Lisbon, Ronaldo's number seven shirts remained on display in souvenir shops, while a tribute to the footballer appeared outside José Alvalade Stadium.
However, not everyone agreed on the timing of his departure.
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"I think he should have left after the World Cup," one fan argued, adding that Ronaldo was "no longer the Ronaldo of old".
Another supporter questioned whether the former Portugal captain could still meet the physical demands of international football.
"Right now he doesn't have the ability to play for 90 minutes, and the national team has to make way for new players to build a team for four years from now."
For other fans, Ronaldo's contribution to Portuguese football outweighed concerns about his recent performances.
"Portugal was nothing in the eyes of the world before Cristiano arrived, before Cristiano made history and left his mark not only on football but on the world," one supporter declared.
The fan also criticised those who had questioned Ronaldo's place in the national team.
"I think the Portuguese people were very ungrateful to him," the fan added, asking: "Who was it that carried this national team on his back? It was him."
Ronaldo's retirement followed a disagreement with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus over playing time.
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The footballer left the national team camp in September and was subsequently handed a 30-day suspension by the Portuguese Football Federation.
The dispute generated further disagreement among supporters, with some defending Jesus's decisions and others questioning how Ronaldo had been treated.
Despite the controversy, some fans expressed hope that the footballer would receive a final opportunity to represent Portugal.
"Everyone wants to see Ronaldo's last match for the national team, wearing the Portugal shirt with the number seven."
Ronaldo made his international debut in 2003 and went on to help Portugal win its first major international trophy at Euro 2016.
He was also part of the Portuguese teams that won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
