Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, putting millions of fans in surprise and shock.
In a social media post on Thursday, the 41-year-old said: “Today, the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision.”
Ronaldo said he would “hand back the number 7 shirt” after the November international break.
The decision to bring his glittering football career to a close comes after a falling out with head coach Jorge Jesus.
Ronaldo was suspended for 30 days and fined £215 after he walked out of the squad’s training camp on the last international break. He later apologised and cited broken promises from Jesus as the reason for his departure.
It was a sad ending to a lauded career that began more than two decades ago before Euro 2004 and saw him make 234 appearances for Portugal and score 146 goals.