Rio Ferdinand has paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo after his former Manchester United teammate announced he will retire from international football following Portugal's November fixtures.
Ronaldo's decision will bring an end to a 23-year international career in which he made a men's-record 234 appearances and scored 146 goals for Portugal.
Ferdinand, who played alongside Ronaldo at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2009, responded to the news on X with a short but fitting tribute: “You came, you saw, you conquered...” Ferdinand wrote, before ending his tribute with: “Keep Smiling!”
A Career Unlikely To Be Matched
Ronaldo's international career began in August 2003 and included six World Cups, Portugal's first European Championship title in 2016 and two UEFA Nations League triumphs in 2019 and 2025.
His most recent appearance came on September 24, when Portugal beat Wales 1-0 in the Nations League. He could still feature in the upcoming fixtures against Denmark and Wales during the November international break, giving him a final chance to add to his international records.
The 41-year-old announced his decision in a video message, reflecting on his time wearing Portugal's No. 7 shirt.
“I never felt it belonged to me alone,” he said, before adding that it was time to pass it on to the future.
Ronaldo remains under contract with Al-Nassr and has not announced his retirement from club football. His departure from Portugal will bring an end to an international career that has produced records unlikely to be matched for years.
