Ronaldo retires from Portugal after coach fall-out - ESPN

Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday his retirement from international football after 23 years of` representing Portugal at the highest level, following a fallout with coach Jorge Jesus.

Ronaldo, 41, has 146 goals in 234 games for Portugal, making him the leading men's international goal scorer and appearance maker.

«To the Portuguese people, the day has come to hand back the number seven shirt of the national team that belongs to us all. I never felt it was exclusively mine,» Ronaldo said in a lengthy video posted on Instagram.

«But for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it and taking it with me to stadiums all over the world. Today the time has come to hand it over to the future.

»It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not made solely with the head; they are also made with the heart."

The announcement comes one day before Portugal coach Jorge Jesus names the squad for the upcoming Nations League games against Denmark and Wales.

Ronaldo's decision comes just after the Portugal captain served a 30-day suspension that was handed down by his country's football federation. The Al Nassr forward was punished for walking out of the national team in the previous international window. Ronaldo had taken the action after a fallout with new manager Jorge Jesus over playing time.

He played last game for Portugal on Sept. 24, a 1-0 win over Wales in a Nations League game in Lisbon. Ronaldo was an unused sub for the first time in 18 years for Portugal in a 2-1 win at Norway on Oct. 4.

Ronaldo apologized to his teammates for walking out and expressed his desire to continue playing for the national team. He did not, however, apologize to Jorge Jesus, his former Al