The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from the Portuguese national team, announced on Thursday, closes an adventure of more than twenty years marked by records and titles.
The announcement came this Thursday, November 5th: at 41 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo will no longer wear the Seleção jersey. The news, expected for several weeks, comes amid a tense atmosphere with head coach Jorge Jesus. The latter excluded the player during the latest call-ups, causing a rift difficult to overcome.
This end of journey, marked by an open conflict, cannot sum up an exceptional international career. Since his debut in 2003, Ronaldo has played more than two hundred matches in the Portuguese jersey, becoming the top scorer in the history of the national team. His commitment, longevity, and consistency at the highest level have made him a central figure in Lusitanian football.
Beyond the statistics, an entire chapter of Portuguese football history is turning. Ronaldo experienced failures, lost finals, then triumphs, notably the European championship in 2016. He carried an entire team on his shoulders for nearly two decades, embodying demand and determination. Future generations will remember this selflessness as much as the trophies.
If the manner of leaving the stage leaves a bitter taste, it would be unfair to reduce CR7's legacy to his last few months. Debates about his influence, his playing time, or his attitude toward the staff have fueled the discussion, but they must not obscure the essential: an exceptional player served his country with rare commitment. Portugal loses a leader, but retains a rich history, made of work and passion.
From now on, the national team will have to project itself without its emblem. Jorge Jesus and his players will have the heavy task of building the post-Ronaldo era. But whatever follows, Cristiano Ronaldo's place in the pantheon of Portuguese football is already secured. A page turns, without erasing the twenty years that preceded it.
This end of journey, marked by an open conflict, cannot sum up an exceptional international career. Since his debut in 2003, Ronaldo has played more than two hundred matches in the Portuguese jersey, becoming the top scorer in the history of the national team. His commitment, longevity, and consistency at the highest level have made him a central figure in Lusitanian football.
Beyond the statistics, an entire chapter of Portuguese football history is turning. Ronaldo experienced failures, lost finals, then triumphs, notably the European championship in 2016. He carried an entire team on his shoulders for nearly two decades, embodying demand and determination. Future generations will remember this selflessness as much as the trophies.
If the manner of leaving the stage leaves a bitter taste, it would be unfair to reduce CR7's legacy to his last few months. Debates about his influence, his playing time, or his attitude toward the staff have fueled the discussion, but they must not obscure the essential: an exceptional player served his country with rare commitment. Portugal loses a leader, but retains a rich history, made of work and passion.
From now on, the national team will have to project itself without its emblem. Jorge Jesus and his players will have the heavy task of building the post-Ronaldo era. But whatever follows, Cristiano Ronaldo's place in the pantheon of Portuguese football is already secured. A page turns, without erasing the twenty years that preceded it.
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Source: Ouest-France