Portugal: Neymar reacts as Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football
.jpg "Portugal: Neymar reacts as Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football")
Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo following the Portuguese forward’s announcement of his retirement from international football on Thursday, November 5.
Neymar expressed his admiration for Ronaldo in a short message on Instagram, referring to him as a “Lenda,” or “Legend” in Portuguese, accompanied by clapping emojis.
Ronaldo confirmed his retirement in a video shared on his Instagram account, stating that he would officially conclude his 23-year international career with Portugal after the November international break. He also revealed his decision to relinquish the number seven jersey, which he has worn throughout his distinguished tenure with the national team.
In his farewell message to Portugal, Ronaldo reflected on the honor of representing his country for more than two decades. “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team. I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world,” he stated.
He noted that arriving at this decision was emotionally taxing, saying, “It was not an easy decision. Because some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart.”
Ronaldo concludes his international career with an impressive record of 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal, making him the most-capped player and leading goal-scorer in men’s international football history. His honors include guiding Portugal to their first major international trophy at Euro 2016, as well as victories in the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
The significance of Neymar’s tribute is amplified by the history between the two football icons; they were rivals in Spain for four seasons, with Neymar playing for Barcelona and Ronaldo for Real Madrid. Neymar himself announced his retirement from international duty in July after Brazil’s 2-1 loss to Norway in the World Cup round of 16.
In the wake of Ronaldo’s announcement, various football figures and organizations have joined in celebrating his remarkable contributions to the sport. The Premier League’s official Instagram account and Ronaldo’s former teammate Pepe were among those offering messages of appreciation.
