Just under a month ago, Lionel Messi retired from international football. Yesterday, Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football as well.
Who would have thought that two of the greatest to ever play the sport would retire from their respective national teams in the same year 🥹
The end of an era 🐐 🐐
🚨🇸🇳 Sadio Mané on what Cristiano Ronaldo told him after scoring a hat-trick for Al-Nassr today. 🐐
🗣️ Sadio Mané:
“After the game, Cristiano came to me and told me something I will never forget.
He said, ‘Sadio, I love you, brother. You have helped me get closer to my dream of scoring 1,000 career goals, and I will always appreciate that.’
“He told me that he no longer sees me as just a teammate or a friend, but as his younger brother. Honestly, those words meant a lot to me because Cristiano is someone I respect deeply.
“He also told me that one day, he hopes we can visit Senegal together and do something special for the people there through charity. That touched my heart.
“Football has given me many things, but building a genuine relationship with someone like Cristiano Ronaldo is something I will always treasure. He’s more than a teammate to me. He’s family. ❤️🤝🇸🇳”
Kylian Mbappé since arriving at Real Madrid: 🇫🇷
👕 116 games
🌟 115 G/A
⚽️ 100 goals
🅰️ 15 assists
Erling Haaland since arriving at Manchester City: 🇳🇴
👕 209 games
🌟 205 G/A
⚽️ 175 goals
🅰️ 30 assists
Harry Kane since arriving at Bayern Munich: 🏴
👕 159 games
🌟 196 G/A
⚽️ 156 goals
🅰️ 40 assists
𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐎 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟑𝟎 🤯
It's like he's had two completely different careers 😳
⚽ 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟𝗦:
Before 30: 4️⃣6️⃣3️⃣
After 30: 5️⃣2️⃣2️⃣
⚽⚽⚽ 𝗛𝗔𝗧-𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗦:
Before 30: 3️⃣0️⃣
After 30: 3️⃣7️⃣
🏆 𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗦:
Before 30: 1️⃣8️⃣
After 30: 1️⃣9️⃣
⚽⚽ 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗦:
Before 30: 8️⃣6️⃣
After 30: 9️⃣0️⃣
⚽🅰️ 𝗚/𝗔:
Before 30: 6️⃣1️⃣8️⃣
After 30: 6️⃣2️⃣8️⃣
Most players spend their 30s slowing down, but Cristiano somehow reached another level.
𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗜𝗦 𝗨𝗡𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟. 👑
🚨 Zinedine Zidane on Cristiano Ronaldo scoring for Al Nassr after the Jorge Jesus controversy:
🗣️Zinedine Zidane :
“You saw the goal today. Coman hits it, the keeper gets a hand to it, and Cristiano is already there. Rebound, finish, done. That’s him. Forty-one, and he’s still the one who wants the second ball.
And Jorge Jesus spent the international break talking like that player was finished. He knows him. He coached him. You don’t warm a guy like that up, leave him standing, then go out and act like you never promised him the minutes. That’s not a decision. That’s disrespect.
People want to punish Cristiano for walking. Punish the coach. He’s the one who gave his word and didn’t keep it.
Look at those Portugal games without him. They got through them, yeah. Tight, nervous, hanging on longer than they should have. Cristiano closes games. That’s what he’s done his whole life. Jesus made it harder than it needed to be because he left the one player out who settles it.
Then he comes back, scores for Al Nassr, and everybody acts surprised. I’m not surprised. I coached him. I take my hat off. Jesus should as well.”
🚨🚨| Before Al-Nassr's match, their fans unveiled a massive banner with 'CR7' on it with the caption 'Greatness is EARNED.'
Al-Nassr fans also were chanting his name at the 7th minute. After the match, Ronaldo put on an Al-Nassr scarf and celebrated with the fans. ❤️🤩
هكذا يُستقبَل أسطورة مثل كريستيانو رونالدو!!
بعد كل الجدل مع منتخب البرتغال، جماهير النصر قدّموا لِقائدهم لفتة ضخمة. 🥹💛
المشجعون رفعوا لافتة تحمل رسالة كانت تقول كل شيء:
👑 العظمة تُكتسَب!!
لأن كريستيانو لم يصل إلى القمة بالصدفة. كانت سنوات من التضحية والانضباط والأهداف وعقلية جعلته أسطورة. 🐐🔥
يمكنهم انتقاده، ويمكنهم التشكيك فيه، لكن لا أحد يستطيع محو كل ما حققه.
😭❤️ الاحترام لا يُهدى، بل يُكتسَب!! وكريستيانو رونالدو كسبه داخل الملعب!! #😭🇵🇹