Complete list of cricketers and cricket teams who paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo following his international retirement at 41
Portugal's football icon Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football on November 5. Here is the complete list of cricketers and cricket teams who paid tribute to the legendary footballer.
Portugal football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner confirmed his decision through a video shared on social media. Ronaldo led Portugal to Euro 2016 glory and ended his international career as football's all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player, with 146 goals in 234 appearances. The 41-year-old also said that he would ‘hand back the number 7 shirt’.
Following his retirement announcement, the legendary footballer received tributes from several well-known personalities across the sporting world. The cricket fraternity also joined in celebrating the Portuguese superstar's remarkable career. IPL teams such as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT), along with cricketers such as Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Siraj, paid tribute to Ronaldo.
In this article, we take a look at the complete list of cricketers and cricket teams who paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo following his international retirement at 41.
Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football at 41: What happened
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 41, bringing an end to a remarkable career with Portugal. He leaves behind a record of 146 international goals in 234 appearances, making him the highest goalscorer and most-capped player in men's international football. However, Ronaldo is expected to continue playing club football for Al Nassr.
In a video shared on social media, he confirmed his decision and said, “The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team. I never felt it belonged to me alone. But for 23 years, I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world.”
Ronaldo played a key role in Portugal's success for more than two decades, helping the team win the Euro 2016 title and two UEFA Nations League trophies. He represented his country in six FIFA World Cups, with his last campaign ending in a 1-0 defeat against Spain in the Round of 16. He also holds the record for scoring in six different editions of the FIFA World Cup. Despite his remarkable achievements and individual records, winning the World Cup remained the one major honour missing from his international career.
Speaking about his journey with Portugal, Ronaldo said his international career was about much more than goals, records and trophies. He highlighted his connection with Portuguese fans around the world and the memories he created while representing his country. “When I look back at everything I experienced with the national team, I don't just see matches, goals, records or trophies. I see people, Portuguese people living abroad, who, for 90 minutes, felt a little closer to home,” he said.
He also spoke about his determination to keep improving and give his best for the national team, adding, “I always pushed myself beyond limits. I wanted to win. I wanted to be better. I wanted to make history. I always demanded the most of myself.”
Cricketers who paid tribute to Ronaldo: Kohli, Yuvraj and more
Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as a “true legend” and an inspiration for generations. He congratulated the Portuguese footballer on his remarkable international career following his retirement announcement on November 5.
In his Instagram post, Yuvraj praised Ronaldo's journey from Madeira to becoming one of the greatest footballers in the world. He said Ronaldo's success reflected ambition, discipline, self-belief, hard work and the determination to overcome challenges.
Apart from Yuvraj Singh, no other cricketers have directly paid tribute to Ronaldo so far. However, IPL franchises Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) also honoured the football superstar. RCB shared a quote from Virat Kohli about Ronaldo, while Gujarat Titans posted a tribute featuring the footballer's famous celebration. We will update this article if more cricketers share their tributes.
Cricket teams and franchises that hailed Ronaldo’s career
Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement from international football received tributes from across the sporting world. Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) also joined in by sharing a special tribute to the Portuguese football star, featuring Virat Kohli's words of admiration. Coincidentally, Ronaldo announced his international retirement on November 5, which was also Virat Kohli's 38th birthday. RCB took to its official social media account to celebrate Ronaldo's remarkable journey with Portugal and highlight the qualities that have made him one of the greatest footballers of all time.
"The little boy from Madeira, the ICON CR7!" RCB wrote on X. The franchise further praised his dedication and determination, adding, "The epitome of hard work, believing in yourself, hustling to make your dreams come true." RCB also shared Virat Kohli's heartfelt words about Ronaldo. Following Portugal's elimination from the 2022 FIFA World Cup after their defeat to Morocco, Kohli had called Ronaldo a true inspiration for sportspersons and said his greatness could not be measured by trophies alone. He wrote, "A man who plays his heart out every single time and is the epitome of hard work and dedication and a true inspiration for any sportsperson. You are for me the greatest of all time."
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) also paid tribute to Ronaldo through an emotional social media post, praising his legacy and the impact he has had on football across generations. "A legacy that will inspire generations! A legend that football will never forget! Cristiano, you showed the world what hard work, discipline and self-belief can achieve. An unforgettable international journey, that made an entire nation dream bigger! Obrigado, CR7!" CSK wrote. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans (GT) also joined the celebrations with a special message, writing, "Guess we'll be doing the SIUUU a little louder today 🥹" in honour of Ronaldo's famous celebration.
Here is how the cricket teams paid tribute to Ronaldo:
About the Author
A Madridista at heart, football is my first love, while cricket writing is my passion. Although Real Madrid sparked my love for football, Virat Kohli introduced me to the world of cricket. With over three years of journalism experience, I have written for Sportskeeda, Cricreads, and Athlete Fortune. I currently write for Cricket Winner, covering cricket news, match analysis, player stories, and statistics.
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