Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of the Portuguese national team, has made a final decision to retire from international football.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Club: Al-Nassr
The Portuguese newspaper "O Jogo" revealed that the player has decided not to return to represent the Portuguese national team again, preferring to retire from international duty.
The Portugal captain left the national team camp in Denmark on Wednesday, heading to Madrid following statements by Jorge Jesus, the national team coach, during the press conference.
Cristiano Ronaldo has played 234 matches for the Portuguese national team, scoring 146 goals and providing 45 assists.
He won the UEFA European Championship once and the UEFA Nations League twice with the Portuguese national team.
Cristiano Ronaldo said via his official Facebook account: "After the national team coach's press conference, and after a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team camp."
He continued, "In due time, I will tell all Portuguese people the reasons that led me to leave the national team, for which I have always dedicated myself."
He concluded, "Now is the time to wish Portugal and all my teammates success, without exception."
As controversy grew over Ronaldo's absence, Pedro Proença, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, decided to change his plans and join the senior national team camp. He gave up attending the Portugal U21 match and returned to Denmark to hold an urgent meeting with Jesus and Ronaldo.
The meeting took place on Wednesday morning at the hotel where the Portuguese national team was staying in Malmö, and it was described as having been conducted in a calm and friendly atmosphere.
However, Ronaldo's absence from Wednesday's training session opened a new chapter in the crisis, especially since it came just minutes after Jesus confirmed the player's participation in training.
João Félix was the most notable addition to the Portuguese national team's training session on the eve of the match against Denmark, while Francisco Conceição's absence from the match was confirmed by Jesus.
The Portuguese national team is preparing to face Denmark tomorrow, Thursday, in the third round of Group 4 matches in the UEFA Nations League.
Portugal tops Group 4 with 6 points, a group that includes (Denmark, Norway, and Wales).
Ronaldo played against Wales in the first round, in a match that ended with a 1-0 victory for Portugal.
He missed the match against Norway in the second round of the group stage, which ended with a 2-1 victory for Portugal.
