"Sad it ends like this": Adrien Silva pays tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo after international retirement announcement

Former Portugal teammate Adrien Silva paid tribute to Ronaldo's legacy while expressing sadness that his international retirement didn't end on a grander note.

Adrien Silva, who played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo when Portugal won Euro 2016, appeared on RMC's Rothen s'enflamme to reflect on Ronaldo's retirement from international football announced Thursday. Silva acknowledged the controversies surrounding Ronaldo's final appearances for the national team but chose to focus on the lasting impact the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has had on Portuguese football.

"We all imagined a grand exit as he deserves, but we can't control everything in life," Silva said. "We're all a bit sad it ends this way, but we can't erase the legacy he left for the entire country and all the generations he passed through. He gave us so many good emotions that will remain far more than what happened in recent months."

Silva also recalled the Euro 2016 final against France, when an injured Ronaldo took on an assistant coach role on the bench, demonstrating his winning mentality and passion. Ronaldo's international career spanned 23 years and included 146 goals in 234 matches—both men's world records—but ended after a clash with Portugal manager Jorge Jesus in September, when Ronaldo was benched and warmed up without playing in a match against Norway.