Cristiano Ronaldo has described representing Portugal as one of the greatest privileges of his football career, insisting that he gave everything to the national team throughout his 23 years of service.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The 41-year-old made this known in an emotional farewell message following his decision to retire from international football, bringing to a close a journey that began in August 2003.

Ronaldo admitted that surrendering the national team shirt and captain’s armband was not an easy decision because of the deep emotional bond he had developed with Portugal and its supporters.

Reflecting on his time with the national team, the Al-Nassr forward said his memories went beyond goals, records and trophies. He explained that the most meaningful part of the experience was the connection he shared with millions of Portuguese people.

He recalled how his performances had given supporters reasons to celebrate, forget their worries and take pride in their country.

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward also acknowledged that his international career had included painful defeats and difficult moments when he could not meet the expectations of Portuguese fans.

Despite those disappointments, he maintained that he never stopped fighting or feeling proud to represent his country.

Ronaldo expressed gratitude to his former teammates, coaches, medical personnel, football administrators and other staff members who supported him throughout his time with Portugal.

He also gave special recognition to his family for standing by him and making sacrifices during his years of international service.

The football icon urged younger Portuguese players to continue dreaming, work hard and believe they could achieve even greater things for their country.

According to him, records may eventually be broken and trophies may end up in museums, but the memories and emotional bond created with supporters will endure.

He concluded by recalling the special feeling of standing alongside his teammates as the Portuguese national anthem played, describing it as a moment when people from different backgrounds united through one shared passion: Portugal.

Ronaldo’s farewell message reads:

“To the Portuguese people,

“The day has come to hand back the shirt and the captain’s armband of the national team that belongs to all of us. I never felt that it was exclusively mine, but for 23 years, I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it, and carrying it with me to stadiums all around the world.

“Today, the moment has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the head alone. They are also made with the heart.

“I am bringing to an end a journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever. When I look back and think about everything I experienced with the national team, I don’t just see matches, goals, records, or trophies. I see people.

“I see immigrants who, for 90 minutes, felt a little closer to Portugal. I see millions of Portuguese people whom I never met personally, but who became part of my life. Because, at the end of the day, football is much bigger than a game. Football is about people.

“Throughout my entire career with the national team, I always tried to push beyond my limits. I wanted to win, I wanted to be the best, I wanted to make history.

“I was always demanding of myself. I always wanted more. I always believed we could go further, and I gave everything I had for this shirt. There were perfect afternoons and nights. There were victories I will never forget. There were defeats that still hurt to remember today.

“I also failed. I also suffered. There were moments when I couldn’t give the Portuguese people what they wanted so badly. But I never gave up. And above all, I never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal.

“Over these years, I learned some very simple things: goals come and go, trophies end up in museums, records are eventually broken, but there is something that time can never erase.

“The place I hold in people’s hearts. If I ever made you happy, if one of my goals ever made you hug someone, forget a worry, or feel proud of our country, then it was all worth it. Because being Portuguese is also about that.

“We suffer together. We get back up together. We believe again.

“Portugal will always need young people who dream, players who never give up, and new generations who believe it is possible to reach places no one has reached before.

‘You Are All Part Of My Story’

“Because a country that continues to create new heroes is a country that never stops believing in itself.

“To my national team teammates, I want to leave a special message.

“Thank you for every run, every hug, every argument, every moment of silence before stepping onto the pitch, every victory we celebrated together, and every defeat that made us stronger. I had the privilege of being your captain, but no captain walks alone, and you are all part of my story.

“To all the coaches, directors, doctors, physiotherapists, kit managers, staff members, and the many people who worked with me throughout these years, thank you.

“Many of you never appeared in the photographs, but without you, none of those photographs would have been possible.

“To my family, thank you for sharing this dream with me.

“Thank you for understanding the absences, the sacrifices, and the moments when the national team had to take up a space that also belonged to you. If I made it this far, it was because we always walked hand in hand.

“And to the Portuguese people, to every Portuguese person around the world, I want to tell you one last thing.

“There is an image that I will always carry with me. A moment when the national anthem begins. I look around me. I see my teammates. I see the stands.

“I see children, mothers, fathers, and grandparents. I see Portuguese people who travelled from so far away just to be there.

“And during those moments, we stop being different. There are no clubs. There are no colors. There are no classes. There are no professions. There are no opinions. There is only one passion: Portugal.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that the presidential candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, have nothing to offer Nigerians.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Wike made the remarks during his monthly media chat with selected journalists in Abuja, where he questioned the records of Atiku and other political figures who had previously held positions of power.

He maintained that Nigerians were aware that Atiku had failed to make meaningful contributions when he was given the opportunity to serve.

The minister also questioned who could stand against President Bola Tinubu’s political influence if the 2027 presidential election proceeds to a runoff.

Wike said: “I’m a political scientist and have been in politics more than a decade. Assuming there is a presidential runoff, it will be between Tinubu and who?

“Nigerians know that Atiku and co have been given the opportunity and they did not do anything, Nigerians know that the former governor of Rivers State looted our state, Nigerians know that Obi has nothing to offer, you were there when Soludo opened a can of worms.

“You talk about Kwankwaso my friend, I agree that he is very popular, he ran in 2023, won Kano and the rest Northern states, who were they voting?”

Meanwhile, Wike has dismissed claims that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s political future has been jeopardised by his prolonged political dispute with the FCT minister.

He argued that Fubara is still young and that it would be wrong to conclude that his political prospects have been ruined.

Wike made the clarification on Thursday in Abuja during his monthly media chat with selected journalists.

The minister also disclosed that Fubara is an active member of the Rainbow Coalition, a multi-party political group supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

According to Wike, the Rivers governor played a role in unveiling the coalition’s candidates in the state.

He said: “Governor Fubara is a young man. It will be incorrect to say that his political future is gone.

“Fubara is an active member of the Rainbow Coalition; in fact, he was the one who unveiled the Rainbow Coalition candidates in Rivers State.”

Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesus Owono has withdrawn from the national team squad ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Zimbabwe following the death of Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The 30-year-old striker died on Monday after suffering a serious injury in a collision with Owono during a Spanish second-division match.

Owono, 25, described the incident as “the most difficult days of my life” in a statement released by his club, FC Andorra, on Wednesday.

The goalkeeper also admitted that it was “very hard to come to terms with what has happened” as he continues to grapple with the emotional impact of the tragedy.

Equatorial Guinea’s football federation, Feguifut, confirmed that Owono had asked to withdraw from the squad named by head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese for the upcoming fixtures.

Feguifut president Venancio Tomas Micha had earlier expressed the federation’s support for the goalkeeper, promising “all our human and professional backing” to help him through the difficult period.

Owono has been Equatorial Guinea’s first-choice goalkeeper since November 2020 and has represented the country at the last three AFCON tournaments. His withdrawal is therefore a significant setback for the National Thunder as they prepare for their two meetings with Zimbabwe.

Equatorial Guinea will host Zimbabwe in Bata on Thursday, November 12, before travelling to Harare for the return leg on Monday, November 16.

Both sides have earned three points from their opening two Group E matches and are currently level in the standings.

DR Congo lead the group with six points, while Sierra Leone sit at the bottom without a point.

The two-match encounter offers Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe an opportunity to strengthen their chances of qualifying for the tournament. However, the National Thunder will now have to prepare for the fixtures without their established first-choice goalkeeper.