Cristiano Ronaldo recently announced his retirement from international soccer, bringing an end to an iconic 23-year career with Portugal. The legendary forward made his final appearance for his country with 146 goals in 234 games, finishing as the men’s all-time leading international goalscorer and appearance maker.
CR7 shared an emotional message on Instagram, writing, “To the Portuguese people, the day has come to hand back the number seven shirt of the national team that belongs to us all. I never felt it was exclusively mine.”
He added, “But for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it, and taking it with me to stadiums all over the world. Today the time has come to hand it over to the future.”
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As an era came to an end, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov also paid tribute to the soccer icon on social media. The two have been close friends since their first meeting in 2018, with Nurmagomedov frequently calling Ronaldo the greatest soccer player of all time.
Following Ronaldo’s announcement, ‘The Eagle’ shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, writing, “When you give everything away, you become unnecessary. There are the best, and there are the best of the best.”
He added, “Ronaldo is among the best of the good, and at this level it becomes difficult for people to understand the mentality of such giants. What he has given to Football cannot be described in one word, as well as how the teams he gave his all to treated him.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov speaks about Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement from international football, praising his legendary career, mentality and impact on the sport.⚽️🫂 https://t.co/blgvTokU7n
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) November 6, 2026
Nurmagomedov’s remarks appeared to hint at the recent tensions between Ronaldo and Portugal manager Jorge Jesus. The retirement announcement also came shortly after the Portugal captain served a 30-day suspension imposed by the country’s soccer federation.
The former Real Madrid star was punished for walking out of the national team during the previous international window. The incident reportedly followed a disagreement with Jesus over his playing time.
Ronaldo played his last game for Portugal on September 24, scoring in a 1-0 Nations League victory over Wales in Lisbon. He was then left on the bench for the first time in 18 years during Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway on October 4.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner leaves behind an extraordinary international legacy. He captained Portugal to Euro 2016 glory, lifted the inaugural UEFA Nations League trophy in 2019, and won the competition again in 2025. He also became the first player to score at six different FIFA World Cups this summer, although the coveted World Cup title remained missing from his trophy cabinet.
Regardless of how his international career ended, Nurmagomedov made it clear that Ronaldo’s legacy remains untouched.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
