Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't accept Portugal reality and it's cost him Lionel Messi farewell

Daily Mirror · Jeremy Cross · 2026-11-05 16:00 UTC

Cristiano Ronaldo will join his old foe Lionel Messi in international retirement, but the two footballing legends will end their journey with their countries in very different fashions

It wasn't the farewell he had anticipated...or believed he had deserved.

But the light has finally gone out from the faded star that is Cristiano Ronaldo, after he announced his retirement from international football.

Bringing the curtain down on a glorious Portugal career which saw him win 234 caps and score 146 goals, since making his debut back in 2003. Both world records.

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