Portugal coach 'knew nothing' about Ronaldo retiring
· Sports · BBC Sport
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus revealed he received no prior notice before 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football. Jesus stated he learned about the decision alongside the public through Ronaldo's social media video, just before naming his Nations League squad. The decision follows a September dispute where Ronaldo left the national team camp after being informed he would not start against Denmark. Ronaldo finishes his international career with 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, holding men's world records in both categories since his 2003 debut. Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proenca pledged to honour the Euro 2016 winner for his contributions to the national team.
Why it matters
Ronaldo's international retirement ends a 21-year national team career holding all-time record goal and appearance tallies, forcing Portugal to permanently restructure their forward line without their long-standing captain.
Read the original report — BBC Sport
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