The sports scene witnessed a notable event today with Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement from international play, prompting many stars to offer farewell messages, the most prominent of which was from Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi. Hakimi, the right-back for Paris Saint-Germain, expressed his great appreciation for the Portuguese legend after the latter announced he was ending his distinguished career with his national team.
Hakimi recalled a historic moment shared with Ronaldo during one edition of the World Cup, via his official account on Instagram. The Moroccan star posted a photo of them together from the Morocco vs. Portugal match at the 2018 Russia World Cup, accompanied by a comment in English that read: “Thank you for everything, Cristiano. You are a legend who will remain immortal in the history of football forever.” This gesture reflects the great respect that current generation players have for one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
The photo dates back to the match between the two teams in the second group stage round of the 2018 World Cup, which ended with Portugal winning 1-0. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal of the match with a header in the fourth minute, leading his country to earn three valuable points, while the Moroccan team suffered its second consecutive defeat, which resulted in their early exit from the tournament. Hakimi was a starter in that match, one of his early experiences on the global stage, while Ronaldo was leading Portugal in his fourth World Cup participation.
Ronaldo drew the curtain on his exceptional international career today at the age of 41, having begun it in August 2003. During this career, the “Madeira Rocket” played 234 international matches and scored 146 goals, thus becoming the world record holder for the most appearances and goals scored in men’s football. Ronaldo’s retirement leaves a significant void in international football, but his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of players.
