A few days ago, Cristiano Ronaldo bid goodbye to international soccer after spending 23 years with the team. Ronaldo, 41, retired from Portugal after a legendary career and an average 2026 FIFA World Cup performance.

The world's highest goal scorer and moving closer to 1000 goals, Ronaldo closed his International career with 234 games and 146 goals for Portugal. Now, just days after his retirement, UFC veteran Khabib Nurmagomedov has also paid tribute to the current Al-Nassr captain.

Recently on Instagram, Nurmagomedov penned an emotional tribute for “CR7.” Khabib himself retired at the peak of his career at just 32 and knows how hard it is to hang up the gloves. “When you give everything away, you become unnecessary,” Nurmagomedov wrote on Instagram. “There are the best, and there are the best of the best.

“Ronaldo is among the best of the good, and at this level it becomes difficult for people to understand the mentality of such giants. What he has given to Football cannot be described in one word, as well as how the teams he gave his all to treated him,” he wrote.

While Khabib retired during his career's peak, Ronaldo has done quite the opposite. Now playing in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo decided it was time to hang up his boots amid an already declining international career. Despite his achievements, Ronaldo failed to make a mark in his recent international games for Portugal. However, he is still performing for his club Al-Nassr and is very close to reaching the historic 1000 goals milestone. As of now, there are no confirmed updates on Ronaldo's retirement from all forms of soccer.

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