Cristiano Ronaldo chose a golf course in Lisbon to spend his first international break away from the Portugal national team, infobae reported.
The 41-year-old forward shared a photo on social media from the capital, marking a quiet shift for a player who made 234 appearances and scored 146 goals for his country. ESPN Deportes said that those figures stand as records in men’s international football across a 23-year career that began in 2003.
The relaxation on the links follows Ronaldo’s formal departure from the squad on Thursday, November 5, 2026, ahead of the UEFA Nations League fixtures. infobae reported that golf has become one of his preferred pastimes during club pauses in his home country.
Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus addressed the forward’s exit during a press conference on Friday, November 6, 2026, insisting he bore no responsibility for the final decision. Sports Illustrated said that the parting followed prior friction during the September Nations League window.
“En el plano deportivo, tomó otra decisión y, como ya he dicho, la respeto enormemente,” Jesus told reporters.
The manager added that he harbored no guilt over the conclusion of Ronaldo’s international tenure. Jesus expressed respect for the decision.
With Ronaldo stepping aside, midfielder Bernardo Silva takes over the captain’s armband based on international appearance counts, Sports Illustrated reported. Jesus outlined that the selection follows a strict numerical hierarchy within the squad.
Bernardo leads the current roster with 115 caps, followed by Bruno Fernandes with 97, Rúben Dias with 84, João Cancelo with 77, and Rúben Neves with 73, according to infobae. Sports Illustrated detailed that Bernardo debuted for Portugal in March 2015 under manager Fernando Santos during a 2-0 defeat against Cape Verde.
“Está pasando por una buena etapa en el Real Madrid y no es fácil ser titular en un equipo como ese, uno de los mejores del mundo.” “No tengo ninguna duda sobre el valor de Bernardo,” Jesus told Sports Illustrated.
Meanwhile, the number 7 shirt was used by Rafael Leão in the October matches, infobae reported.
Former teammate Javier Hernández sent an appreciative message via social media following the retirement announcement, recalling their shared season at Real Madrid in 2014-15, Plano Informativo reported. Hernández highlighted the forward’s daily standards in the Spanish capital.
“Cris, tuve la fortuna de compartir vestuario contigo y ver de cerca el enorme talento que tienes,” Hernández wrote on Instagram, according to Plano Informativo. “Porque para llegar a donde has llegado no basta con disciplina. Hace falta dedicación, esfuerzo, perseverancia, resiliencia y también muchísimo talento.”
In Colombia, midfielder James Rodríguez also acknowledged the milestone on social media by commenting “leyenda” on the player’s official announcement, El Colombiano reported. The pair previously shared 86 matches together at Real Madrid.
Portugal returns to competitive action on Saturday, November 14, 2026, hosting Denmark in Braga before traveling to face Wales in Cardiff on November 17, 2026, Sports Illustrated confirmed. The team has already secured qualification for the quarterfinals of the UEFA Nations League.
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