The Portuguese Football Federation has promised Cristiano Ronaldo a farewell worthy of his career, hours after the 41-year-old retired from international football on Thursday.
It says supporters and the whole country should get the chance to applaud him once more.
Ronaldo said goodbye in a social media video, ending 23 years, 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal, both men’s world records. The federation says that should not be the end of it, and issued its own statement.
“The Portuguese Football Federation refuses to allow this farewell to take place without the tribute it deserves.”
No date, venue or format for the tribute has been announced. The federation said it wants to be involved in planning it and in making it a moment the public can share.
“It is our firm and enormous desire to organise, plan, participate and actively collaborate in what will always be a tribute worthy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s immense career, in which the fans and the country can applaud and celebrate, once again, the player who has given us so much.”
The statement also paid tribute to the man as a captain, describing him in terms that went beyond goals and caps.
“More than an exceptional athlete, our captain was an inspiring leader, an example of dedication and the ultimate symbol of the soul of our national team.”
It added that he raised Portugal’s name around the world and inspired young players, and called him the greatest player of all time for many people. His love for the shirt, it said, went beyond the pitch.
The federation ended with a message to the departing captain.
“Thank you for everything, CAPTAIN! This will always be your home! Let’s go for goal 1,000!!!”
Ronaldo, who plays for Al Nassr, has said he will no longer wear Portugal’s number seven shirt. His decision followed a tense spell under Jorge Jesus, with a September camp exit after being left out against Norway and a 30-day suspension.
Jesus is due to name his Nations League squad on November 6, the first without Ronaldo for 23 years.The Portuguese Football Federation has promised Cristiano Ronaldo a farewell worthy of his career, hours after the 41-year-old retired from international football on November 5. It says supporters and the whole country should get the chance to applaud him once more.
Ronaldo said goodbye in a social media video, ending 23 years, 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal, both men’s world records. The federation says that should not be the end of it, and issued its own statement.
“The Portuguese Football Federation refuses to allow this farewell to take place without the tribute it deserves.”
No date, venue or format for the tribute has been announced. The federation said it wants to be involved in planning it and in making it a moment the public can share.
“It is our firm and enormous desire to organise, plan, participate and actively collaborate in what will always be a tribute worthy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s immense career, in which the fans and the country can applaud and celebrate, once again, the player who has given us so much.”
The statement also paid tribute to the man as a captain, describing him in terms that went beyond goals and caps.
“More than an exceptional athlete, our captain was an inspiring leader, an example of dedication and the ultimate symbol of the soul of our national team.”
It added that he raised Portugal’s name around the world and inspired young players, and called him the greatest player of all time for many people. His love for the shirt, it said, went beyond the pitch.
The federation ended with a message to the departing captain.
“Thank you for everything, CAPTAIN! This will always be your home! Let’s go for goal 1,000!!!”
Ronaldo, who plays for Al Nassr, has said he will no longer wear Portugal’s number seven shirt. His decision followed a tense spell under Jorge Jesus, with a September camp exit after being left out against Norway and a 30-day suspension.
Jesus is due to name his Nations League squad on November 6, the first without Ronaldo for 23 years.The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has promised Cristiano Ronaldo a farewell worthy of his career, hours after the 41-year-old retired from international football on Thursday.
The governing body says it wants supporters and the whole country to applaud him once more.
Ronaldo said goodbye in a social media video, ending 23 years, 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal, both men’s world records. The federation insists it should not stop at a clip, and wants the fans to join in celebrating him.
The federation spoke of a “firm and enormous desire” to plan and take part in the tribute, in which the country can applaud the player who has given it so much. No date, venue or format has been announced yet.
Its statement expressed “profound and eternal gratitude” to Portugal’s long-time captain, calling him “more than an exceptional athlete”, an inspiring leader and an example of dedication, who carried the country on his shoulders and led moments engraved in its football history.
It added that his influence reached well beyond the pitch, raising Portugal’s name and inspiring youngsters to follow him. For many people in the country, the federation said, he is “the greatest player of all time”, a man whose love for the shirt showed in every drop of sweat.
The federation closed with a direct message to the departing captain: this will always be his home, and it urged him on towards goal 1,000. Ronaldo, who plays for Al Nassr, has said he will no longer wear Portugal’s number seven shirt.
His decision followed a tense spell under Jorge Jesus, with a September camp exit after being left out against Norway and a 30-day suspension. Jesus is due to name his Nations League squad on November 6, the first without Ronaldo in 23 years.