And if this is the definitive end of Cristiano Ronaldo with the Portugal national team, there is nothing left but to thank him. The last chapters were not happy, but no one, absolutely no one, can dispute his legacy. Before CR7, Portugal watched several World Cups and Euro Championships on TV and was far from any prominence. With Cristiano Ronaldo as a reference, Portugal qualified for all the World Cups, was present in all the Euro Championships, became a respected nation in national football, and dreamed like never before of titles. History will tell that, with him as captain and football leader, the Portuguese were champions of Europe, two-time champions of the Nations League, and won titles when it was something they had never experienced before. All-time top scorer. All-time top assistant. All-time top scorer in national team football. Top scorer of the Euro Championships. Top Portuguese scorer in World Cups. The only player capable of scoring in 6 editions of the World Cups. The player with the most international matches in history. And over 20 years fighting at the top. If he never plays again with his national team, nothing changes. His greatness, impact, and legacy go beyond a turbulent end. The Bug (nickname) excited, motivated, and transcended. We all wanted to play like him at some point. And all of us, regardless of jerseys, preferences, or nationalities, have taken him as a source of inspiration. Thank you for so much, Cristiano. YOU WERE, YOU ARE, AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ETERNAL. (translated)
