Cristiano Ronaldo retires from Portugal international football at 41

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from Portugal international football at the age of 41, ending a 23-year international career. He leaves with 234 caps and 146 goals for Portugal, both men's world records, and having captained his country to the 2016 European Championship.

The 41-year-old striker announced the decision in a video message. BBC One reported that in the five-minute message he said some decisions are not made with the mind alone but also with the heart, and that Portugal would always be part of him. ITV reported that he admitted he had made mistakes and suffered, and that there were moments when he could not give the Portuguese people what they wanted. Channel 4 reported that he said the day had come to hand back the number seven shirt.

His exit follows a falling out with Portugal's coach, Jorge Jesus. BBC News sports presenter Ollie Foster reported that Ronaldo walked out of the national camp after being told he would not get the playing time he wanted in Nations League matches, and that the Portuguese FA gave him a backdated 30-day suspension and a £215 fine, which Ollie Foster described as negligible given his wealth. Sky News said the walkout came after he was told he would not start the Nations League match against Denmark. BBC One said he had been substituted against Wales in September and was then told he was being dropped. The reports differ on the immediate trigger and opponent, but agree that he left the camp and was suspended.

The Portuguese FA paid tribute, according to BBC News, saying it had profound gratitude and immense admiration for him. BBC News reported that the FA said it refused to let the farewell pass without due tribute and wanted to organise a fitting tribute match, though no details were given.

ITV reported that Ronaldo scored 11 goals at World Cups and is the only man to have scored at six of them. It also said his 146 international goals are 20 more than Lionel Messi's tally. BBC One said Ronaldo is only retiring from international football and will continue playing club football in the Saudi Pro League. BBC News reported that he plays for Al Nassr and is chasing 1,000 career goals.

Sky News's Henry Winter said Portugal are a stronger team without Ronaldo and that he should have retired earlier to allow a proper farewell in Lisbon. BBC News's Guillem Balague said no other player had taken Portugal from occasional qualifiers to contenders, and that Ronaldo's best goals-per-minute ratio had come recently under Roberto Martinez. Both Lionel Messi and Ronaldo have now left the international stage, with BBC One noting that Ronaldo's exit came about a month after Messi's final match for Argentina.