Rio Ferdinand: Ronaldo gave Portugal hope of competing for trophies

Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand said Cristiano Ronaldo gave the Portuguese greater hope and ambition to compete for trophies, as well as providing goals and victories for the national team.

Ferdinand explained that, before Ronaldo's influence, Portugal did not see itself among the teams expected to win titles, and that his presence gave fans a sense of hope they had never experienced before a tournament.

This comes after Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football in a video posted on social media. He bid farewell to the Portuguese people, noting that he had represented his country for 23 years wearing the number 7 shirt, and that he had made the decision with difficulty and that the time had come to pass on the torch.