Why has Cristiano Ronaldo retired from international football?

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, ending a record-breaking 23-year career with Portugal. The 41-year-old’s decision, announced on Thursday, brings an end to weeks of speculation about his international career after a public falling-out with Portugal’s head coach, Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo is one of the most famous footballers of all time and enjoys the highest social media following of all athletes.

Over the past few weeks, his millions of worldwide fans have wondered whether the forward’s career had ended on a bitter note. On September 30, Ronaldo made an abrupt departure from Portugal’s training camp ahead of the team’s UEFA Nations League fixture against Denmark, prompting a string of questions and a few answers. Ronaldo confirmed ⁠⁠that he had left after a ⁠⁠turbulent few hours in Copenhagen, amid reports of ⁠⁠a dispute with coach Jesus.

The captain’s decision to walk out came as a shock, as he had been due to train with his teammates at the Parken Stadium.