Gary Lineker sends farewell message to Cristiano Ronaldo after his international retirement

Former England star Gary Lineker sent Cristiano Ronaldo a message after he announced his retirement from international football with Portugal, praising the national team captain’s career and hoping he receives a fitting tribute and farewell for his achievements.

Lineker said he hoped the Portuguese public would pay tribute to Ronaldo in recognition of his contributions, including winning the European Championship. He recalled attending the Euro 2016 final in Paris, when Ronaldo left the match injured in the first half; his teammates went on to clinch the title against France with a goal to nil after extra time.

Lineker added that Ronaldo had achieved remarkable things, including multiple Champions League titles and several Ballon d’Or awards. He ended his message by urging him to rest and enjoy looking back on his career, thanking him for the entertainment and joy he had brought to fans.

The message came after Ronaldo retired from international football, following a 23-year career with Portugal in which he played 234 matches and scored 146 goals, and won Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League twice.