Cristiano Ronaldo and one last dance with Portugal

Portugal's federation pledges to honour Ronaldo's legacy after the 41-year-old announced his international retirement following 234 caps and 146 goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo announced his surprise retirement from the Portugal national team on Thursday at age 41, ending a 234-match international career that yielded 146 goals. The announcement came a month and a half after he left the squad due to disagreements with manager Jorge Jesus.

Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença promised to honour Ronaldo's contribution to Portuguese football. "No tribute will ever be enough to thank him for everything he has done for Portuguese football, for Portugal," Proença said. "We will do everything possible to honour the legacy he leaves us. Everything he has done deserves to be honoured and celebrated."

Proença confirmed that both he and Jesus respect Ronaldo's decision and praised his leadership and influence on generations of Portuguese players. The federation has not yet confirmed whether Ronaldo will accept a farewell match, similar to the friendly Lionel Messi played for Argentina against Benin on 6 October at River Plate stadium.