Ronaldo’s Portugal farewell leaves a bitter legacy, says Sun journalist

Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career has ended in stark contrast to Lionel Messi’s, according to prominent Sun journalist Martin Lipton, who believes the Portugal forward finished his 23-year spell with the national team in bitterness.

Ronaldo followed Messi into international retirement two months after the Argentina captain confirmed he would no longer wear the country’s blue and white shirt.

Messi departed with a collection of major honours after ending Argentina’s long wait for success with victory at the 2021 Copa America, followed by the 2022 World Cup and another continental title. Lipton argues that Ronaldo’s Portugal trophy cabinet is considerably less complete.

“No sane person would deny Ronaldo’s status,” Lipton said. “He is, without doubt, one of the greatest players of all time. He is a force of nature and an exceptional genius, and what he achieved with his clubs, as well as his personality, will never be forgotten.

“But when wearing the Portugal shirt, things did not go as they should. It is both sad and predictable to see everything end amid a dispute with Portugal’s new manager, Jorge Jesus.”

Ronaldo started the Euro 2016 final, which Portugal won against France, but played only 25 minutes before a knee injury forced him off. He was also part of the Portugal side that won the Nations League twice, in 2019 and 2025.

However, his record on football’s biggest stage was less satisfying. Across six World Cups and 27 matches, his 11 goals did not bring him close to the success he wanted beyond his first appearance at the tournament in 2006, when Portugal lost to France in the semi-finals.

A contrasting farewell

Rather than receiving a grand farewell in the United States, Ronaldo’s international career ended on a sour note. He finished with 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal.

Messi’s decision to bring his two-decade association with Argentina to a close was accompanied by fanfare and emotional tributes. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was reduced to tears at the prospect of saying goodbye to his team’s icon.

Ronaldo, by contrast, ended his time with Portugal after a major disagreement involving Jesus. Less than a week after completing a 30-day “suspension” for leaving the national team camp during the most recent international break, Ronaldo omitted any mention of his manager in his farewell message.

That message was issued only a day before Jesus announced his final squad, which could potentially have been named without Ronaldo.

“Not even the great Eusebio dominated the national conversation in Portugal in this way,” Lipton added. “Perhaps nobody ever will. But you have to believe Ronaldo will eventually regret trying to ignore the only opponent no player can defeat: time.

“Whatever tributes are given to him, whether this month or in March, they will be stained by the way things ended.”