“NThere will never be a tribute that is enough to honor everything that Cristiano Ronaldo did for Portugal. Everything you gave us deserves to be remembered, honored and celebrated. The best way to honor him is to honor the greatest inspiration he left us: a limitless ambition, always playing to win and not being afraid to be one of the best in the world. This is the commitment we promise to honor. This is and will always be your home. More than a player, he is a symbol”, said Proença.
The federative director spoke at Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras, immediately before the announcement of the list of players called up by coach Jorge Jesus for the commitments with Denmark and Wales, the last in Group A4 of the League of Nations.
“It’s a decision that we all respect. We all recognize the extraordinary journey and history of the best Portuguese player, and the way in which he honored the flag and the country. More than an outstanding athlete, an inspiring leader and example of dedication, he was the greatest symbol of the soul of our team. He took the country’s name to the four corners of the world, he set records and achievements that will always go down in history. He was, for 20 years, Portugal’s biggest name around the world”, he expressed.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, announced on Thursday his withdrawal from the Portuguese football team, through a video posted on social media.
“Every time he wore the armband, he revealed an unconditional love for the shirt. He marked us all with his spirit, dedication, commitment and natural leadership. He made us all better and inspired millions of young people who dream of following in his footsteps”, recalled Proença, thanking the Madeiran’s legacy.
World record holder for national team games, with 234 ‘AA’ caps, and goals (146), the striker’s career highlights include winning Euro2016, in France and two editions of the Nations League, in 2019 and 2025.
On September 30, the player left the national team training camp on the eve of the match against Denmark in the League of Nations, at the beginning of Jorge Jesus’ cycle as coach of the national team.
Ronaldo, who was a starter with Wales and an unused substitute with Norway, revealed that Jesus failed to speak to him more than once and that’s why he decided to leave the internship, a decision that cost him a 30-day ban, already served, and a fine of 255 euros.
