According to a post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo on Instagram on November 5, 2026, Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has paid tribute to the Portuguese football star following his announcement that he is retiring from international football.

Ronaldo, 41, announced his decision through an emotional video shared on his social media accounts, bringing an end to his 23-year career with the Portugal national team. His announcement attracted widespread reactions from footballers, former teammates, football clubs and supporters who acknowledged his achievements and contributions to the sport.

Among those who reacted was Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, who took to the comments section of Ronaldo’s Instagram post to express his admiration for the former Real Madrid star.

Vinicius left a short but meaningful message, writing, “Forever number 1!!!!!!” His comment reflected the respect he has for Ronaldo and the impact the Portuguese forward has had on football over the years.

The message also carries significance because Ronaldo remains one of the most celebrated players in Real Madrid’s history. The two footballers shared the dressing room during the 2018/19 season, when Vinicius was beginning his career in European football following his move to Spain.

Ronaldo enjoyed nine successful years at Real Madrid, where he established himself as one of the greatest players to represent the Spanish club. During his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, he won several major trophies and became a major influence on younger players. He eventually left the club in 2018 to join Italian side Juventus.

His achievements at both club and international levels have continued to inspire many footballers, including Vinicius, who has developed into one of Real Madrid’s important attacking players.

Ronaldo leaves international football with an outstanding record of 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal. He remains the men’s international football record appearance holder and leading goalscorer.

He also played a major role in Portugal’s success at the 2016 European Championship, as well as the UEFA Nations League victories in 2019 and 2025.

Despite ending his international career, Ronaldo has not announced his retirement from professional football. He is expected to continue playing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, where he will have the opportunity to extend his remarkable career at club level.