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Ronaldo hailed ‘best player of all time’ by FPF
Ronaldo hailed ‘best player of all time’ by FPF

Cristiano Ronaldo has been hailed as "the best player of all time" by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) after his international retirement.

Ronaldo called time on his international career on Thursday after a fallout with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus during the last break.

The 41-year-old holds the Portugal record for appearances (234) and goals (146) after making his debut all the way back in 2003.

He captained Portugal to their first-ever major trophy in 2016, when they won the Euros, before also winning the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.

Ronaldo retires as the only player to have scored at least 10 goals at both the World Cup (11) and the European Championships (14), with the latter figure being a competition record.

The FPF released a statement on Thursday, in which they revealed a farewell will be planned for the Portugal great.

The statement read: "The Portuguese Football Federation expresses its deepest and most enduring gratitude to its eternal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, who announced his definitive retirement from the National Team.

"It is with a feeling of profound gratitude and immense admiration that the Portuguese Football Federation publicly praises and thanks Cristiano Ronaldo for his absolutely extraordinary career serving our country.

"Cristiano Ronaldo has elevated Portugal's name and inspired generations of young people who dream of following in his footsteps, being, for many of us, the best player of all time!

"The Portuguese Football Federation refuses to let this farewell take place without due tribute.

"It is our firm and immense desire to organise, plan, participate, and actively collaborate in what will always be a fitting tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo's immense career, in which fans and the country can applaud and celebrate, once again, the player who has given us so much."

Ronaldo's former club Manchester United also wished him well, along with former team-mates Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot.

Portugal boss Jorge Jesus, meanwhile, claimed Ronaldo was ready to retire after the 2026 World Cup, but was convinced to stay on.

"This is all his decision. We already had the opportunity to talk about this before the first call-up," Jorge Jesus told Canal 11.

"I asked him to stay, to stay with me because I needed him to be by my side, but I have to accept his decision.

"He is a world reference, a reference for Portugal, a reference for the national team. He is a player who, throughout these years, has given a lot to the national team.

"He is a symbol for Portuguese youth. Most of his fans are young. I had the opportunity to share the experience of working with him for a year at Al-Nassr. Therefore, he will always be a reference for our national team, for our people, for our history."

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