The Portuguese Football Federation published a statement on its official website marking the end of Cristiano Ronaldo's career with the national team, infohub.kz reports.
The 41-year-old forward announced his decision on November 5. He played for Portugal from 2003 and scored 146 goals in 234 appearances — records at national-team level.
The federation expressed respect and gratitude to Ronaldo for an "outstanding career in the service of the country."
"Our captain was not only an outstanding athlete but also an inspiring leader, an example of dedication and the embodiment of the spirit of our national team. Throughout a legendary international career he carried the whole country on his shoulders, broke records and led the team to moments that will remain forever in the history of national football. Every drop of sweat, every decisive goal and every captain's armband he proudly wore on the pitch reflected his boundless love for our shirt. His dedication and legacy extend beyond the football pitch. Cristiano Ronaldo brought glory to Portugal and inspired generations of young people dreaming of following in his footsteps, because for many of us he is the best player of all time!" the statement said.
The federation added that it could not bid farewell to the legendary forward "without due respect."
"We are firmly convinced of the need to organize, plan and actively cooperate in creating an event that will be a worthy tribute to the great career of Cristiano Ronaldo, where fans and the whole country can once again applaud and celebrate the achievements of a player who gave us so much," the release said.
In closing, the federation wished the forward success in reaching 1,000 goals in professional football. Ronaldo, who represents Saudi club Al-Nassr at club level, currently has 985 goals to his name.