Cristiano Ronaldo will join his old foe Lionel Messi in international retirement, but the two footballing legends will end their journey with their countries in very different fashions

It wasn't the farewell he had anticipated...or believed he had deserved.

But the light has finally gone out from the faded star that is Cristiano Ronaldo, after he announced his retirement from international football.

Bringing the curtain down on a glorious Portugal career which saw him win 234 caps and score 146 goals, since making his debut back in 2003. Both world records.

But even these remarkable numbers cannot disguise the fact Ronaldo has left the stage amid scenes of rancour, acrimony and perhaps even some regret. In stark contrast to how his nemesis and great rival Lionel Messi called time on his own astonishing career with Argentina.

Messi won the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, then led his team to another final in the summer. Before making his final international appearance in Buenos Aires.

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The occasion had been scripted for the game's greatest ever footballer. Dubbed 'The Last Tango', the night saw a nation pay fitting homage to the sporting icon.

Ronaldo, on the other hand, resorted to posting a message on social media, confirming he wouldn't pull on a Portugal shirt ever again. There has been no fond farewell where Ronaldo is concerned.

His last act was to sit on the bench as an unused substitute during a Nations League game against Norway in Oslo, before walking out on the squad and engaging in a war of words with manager Jorge Jesus.

A battle Ronaldo has now lost.

While Messi appears at peace with his decision, Ronaldo has resembled someone raging against the dying of the light. Having watched Ronaldo's last dance at the World Cup a few months ago, it was clear he was living off past glorious.

At the age of 41, he wasn't even deserving of a place in his own team. He had become a hindrance to all those around him.

He was playing for himself, continuing his flawed mission of trying to become the first player to score 1,000 career goals. But it was never going to happen.

The undeniable truth is that at the last two World Cups, Portugal indulged him. And the end result was that one of the most talented group of players went on to fail badly both times.

Ronaldo couldn't let go. He was like a prize fighter attempting to recreate the past, but one who had taken too many blows. Someone addicted to football, but also someone who couldn't handle being said no to.

Ronaldo has damaged his legacy, through an obsession with the spotlight and having an ego which knows no bounds. Bookmakers are already offering odds on him replacing Jesus as Portugal's next manager. Seriously?

But despite the recent sadness at how this mighty one has fallen, there is no escaping the fact Ronaldo made an immense contribution in his prime years.

He helped Portugal win the Euros in 2016 and two Nations League titles. He dazzled for more than a decade and scored some breathtaking goals.

He was - and remains - one of the greatest players of all time. It's just a shame he couldn't accept sooner what everyone else had managed to.