Card stack
The nature of Ronaldo's international retirement is in stark contrast to his great rival Messi
Compiled Nov 5
What happened
Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from Portugal's national team via video message on Thursday
The detail
Ronaldo's retirement followed a bitter fallout with coach Jorge Jesus after he walked out on a Nations League call-up
The detail
Ronaldo was fined and suspended by Portugal following the incident
The detail
Ronaldo is the all-time leading goal scorer in men's international soccer with 146 goals in 234 matches
How it unfolded
2016: Portugal wins Euro 2016, Ronaldo's first major title, while Messi briefly retires from Argentina duty · 2022 World Cup in Qatar: Ronaldo is dropped from the starting lineup; replacement Goncalo Ramos scores a hat trick; Messi wins the World Cup · 2024: Portugal wins a second Nations League title; Messi wins a second Copa America with Argentina · European Championship 2024: Ronaldo fails to score and misses an extra-time penalty as Portugal reaches the quarterfinals · This year's World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico: Ronaldo becomes first player to score at six different World Cups; Messi has his best-ever World Cup statistically · September: Ronaldo walks out on the national team after a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus during a Nations League game against Norway
By the numbers
$285 fine · 146 in 234 Ronaldo's international goals/matches · 126 in 208 Messi's international goals/matches · 985 Ronaldo's career goals · 700 million Instagram followers
Still unresolved
Whether Ronaldo's complaint against coach Jesus was legitimate is left unresolved by the article