Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, ending a 23-year career with Portugal.
The 41-year-old forward made the announcement on Thursday in an Instagram video featuring images from his career, saying the decision had been a difficult one that he made with both his head and his heart.
Ronaldo leaves the national team with 234 appearances and 146 goals, a world record in men’s international football. He wore Portugal’s number seven shirt from August 2003 and won the European Championship with the team in France in 2016, although he was forced off injured in the final. He is also a five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
At this year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, he scored three goals before Portugal were knocked out in the round of 16 by Spain, who went on to win the tournament.
His decision follows a falling-out last month with national coach Jorge Jesus, who refused to field him in a Nations League match. Ronaldo left the team camp immediately and was given a 30-day suspension, although there had been rumours he planned to return to the national side.