Cristiano Ronaldo called time on his international career on Thursday after 23 years with Portugal. Tributes quickly followed from the clubs that shaped his career, from Lisbon, where it began, to Riyadh, where he still plays.
Manchester United paid tribute on their official website to the player who wore their shirt across two spells, while Sporting CP and Juventus hailed his achievements with Portugal. His current club, Al Nassr, also celebrated their captain’s legacy with the national team.
By Friday morning, Real Madrid had yet to publish a statement on their website or post a message on their official social media accounts. Their silence sparked debate given that Ronaldo’s years in Madrid were the most prolific of his club career.
According to Real Madrid’s official records, Ronaldo scored 451 goals in 438 appearances, making him the club’s all-time leading scorer. Over nine seasons, he won four Champions League titles, including three in a row, and lifted the La Liga trophy twice.
That chapter ended in the summer of 2018, weeks after Real Madrid won their 13th European Cup in Kyiv. Ronaldo joined Juventus and later spoke about how his relationship with Madrid president Florentino Pérez had changed.
“He looked at me as if I was no longer indispensable,” Ronaldo told France Football at the time. He said the change in how Pérez saw him played a part in his decision to leave. By the end of his spell in Madrid, he felt the president treated him differently from when he first arrived.
Those remarks have brought Pérez back into the discussion over Madrid’s silence. The club has yet to say why it did not issue a tribute.
Ronaldo leaves international football with two men’s records, having scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal. He led his country to the Euro 2016 title and Nations League triumphs in 2019 and 2025. He continues his club career with Al Nassr.
