Cristiano Ronaldo releases emotional five-minute video statement confirming retirement decision

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he has retired from international football in an emotional statement.

Following Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus' decision to bench Ronaldo for the 2-1 Nations League win over Norway, the legendary striker stormed out of the national camp, casting doubts over his future playing for his country.

Since then, following a damning 1,740-word statement, it was believed that Ronaldo could maybe represent Portugal once more, but he's now announced that his international career is over.

Cristiano Ronaldo releases emotional video statement confirming international retirement

In a video shared on social media, Ronaldo said: “Today I finish my walk on the pitch with the national team. I leave with my head held high, with pride in the path I took, and with the awareness that I gave everything I had for Portugal.”

“The goals pass, the cups are in museums, the records end up being beaten. But there is something that time can never erase, the place we occupy in people’s hearts.

“I spent my life working to be the best player in the world. Today I realise that the greatest victory was to have deserved to represent the best country in the world.

“Thank you for these 23 years. Thank you for having believed in me.

“Portugal will always be in me. Forever.”

It comes ahead of the official announcement of Portugal's Nations League squad for the upcoming international break.

Ronaldo was included in the preliminary squad announced in late October.

Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement statement in full:

“The day has come back for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team. 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.

“Today, the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision. Because some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart.

“A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end. When I look back at everything with the national team, I don’t just see the matches, goals, records or trophies.

“I see people. I see the Portuguese people living abroad who, for 90 minutes, felt a little closer to home. I see millions of Portuguese people I have never met but who became part of my life. Because at the end of the day, football is so much bigger than a game. Football is about people.

“Throughout my entire career with the national team I always pushed myself beyond my limits. I wanted to win, I wanted to be better, I wanted to make history. I always demanded the most of myself. I always wanted more. I always believed we could go further. And I gave everything I had for this shirt.

“There were perfect afternoons and nights. There were victories I will never forget. There were defeats that still hurt to remember.

“I made mistakes. I suffered. There were also moments when I couldn’t give the Portuguese people what they so desperately wanted. But I never gave up. And above all, I never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal.

“Over the years, I learned a few very simple things: Goals fade. Trophies end up in museums. Records are eventually broken. But there is something that time can never erase: the place we hold in people’s hearts. If I ever made you happy, if one of my goals ever made you embrace someone, forget a worry, or feel proud of your country, then it was all worth it. Because being Portuguese is also about this. We suffer together. We rise together. We believe again.

“Portugal will always need young people who dare to dream. Players who never give up. New generations who believe it is possible to go where no one has gone before. Because a country that keeps creating new heroes is a country that never stops believing in itself.”

More to follow...