Nigeria, Nov. 5 -- Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on an extraordinary 23-year journey with Portugal that saw him rewrite the record books and become one of the game's greatest players.

The 41-year-old forward announced it in an emotional message shared across his social media platforms on Thursday, confirming that he was ready to hand over Portugal's iconic number seven shirt to the next generation.

Speaking in the emotional video posted on his pages, Ronaldo described the decision as one of the most difficult of his career, reflecting on the immense privilege and responsibility that came with representing his country for more than two decades.

"The day has come for...