Cristiano Ronaldo ends Portugal career after disappointing World Cup exit

Ronaldo, one of the most decorated players in football history, has called time on his international career after representing Portugal for nearly two decades. The 37-year-old's exit from the sport's biggest stage came amid a disappointing campaign that saw the Portuguese squad fail to progress as far as many had anticipated.

The striker's retirement marks the conclusion of a storied chapter in Portuguese football. Ronaldo had been a cornerstone of the national team's recent success, including their Euro 2016 triumph and Nations League victories, establishing himself as one of the country's greatest-ever players.

His departure from international football comes at a point when the forward was no longer commanding a regular starting position, signalling a natural endpoint to a career that had spanned multiple World Cup and European Championship tournaments. The timing of Ronaldo's announcement reflects the reality that his influence on the international stage had begun to wane in recent years.

Portugal will now look to rebuild its squad around younger talent as it moves forward without one of football's most iconic figures. Ronaldo's retirement represents the end of an era for Portuguese football, closing a chapter that delivered both triumph and, ultimately, disappointment on the global stage.