Portugal before and with Cristiano Ronaldo: the story of an inspiration that changed the face of history

Cristiano Ronaldo stunned football fans on Thursday by retiring from international football with Portugal, bringing the curtain down on a historic career with "the Navigators".

His decision came weeks after a dispute with Portugal manager Jorge Jesus, a row that saw him leave the team's camp during the last international break.

Ronaldo wanted to carry on with Portugal and chase his dream of scoring the 1000th goal of his career in their shirt. Jesus was ready to name him in the list he announces tomorrow. Yet the Al-Nassr star took the initiative and called time on his international career himself.

So ends one of the finest stories of an international player with his country. Cristiano delivered a legendary career with the national team that will stay immortal in the history of football.

The start of the journey with Portugal

Back in August 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo was 18 years and six months old, but he had already caught the eye after shining in a Sporting Lisbon shirt, prompting Manchester United to sign him.

That form drew the attention of Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who called him up despite the big names in Portuguese football at the time.

The Brazilian handed him his debut straight after the call-up, a friendly against Kazakhstan.

More call-ups followed for the young star, who took part in the preparations for Euro 2004 and scored his first international goal in the opening match against Greece.

Portugal lost that final to Greece, but the tournament officially announced the emergence of a great star in their ranks, even with Luis Figo still the number one.

Portugal before the Cristiano era

Before Cristiano Ronaldo arrived, the team nicknamed "the Navigators" did not belong among the great powers of world football like Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Italy.

"The Brazil of Europe" was seen as a side with exceptional individual skill and entertaining football, but never a permanent contender for titles. Their presence at world events was marked by "intermittent flashes" then absence for long years.

At World Cup level before the Ronaldo era, Portugal managed only three appearances: 1966, 1986 and 2002.

Across those rare appearances, their finest achievement came at England 1966 under the legend Eusebio, when the team claimed third place. The rest of the decades saw almost complete absence, broken only by the setback of early group-stage exits in Mexico 1986 and at South Korea and Japan 2002.

Their European Championship story was just as thin, with the finals reached on only three occasions before 2003: 1984, 1996 and 2000.

Reaching the semi-final on debut in 1984, then repeating the feat through the "Golden Generation" led by Luis Figo at Euro 2000, still left the record completely devoid of any continental title.

A historic transformation in the Ronaldo era

Portugal's real history in football began in the Cristiano Ronaldo era. The senior national team achieved what many had considered mere dreams.

Across the 23 years of Ronaldo's international career, Portugal never missed a World Cup or a European Championship.

Consider the numbers. Portugal played three World Cups in all the decades before Ronaldo, then appeared six times in a row in the Don's era.

The same goes for the Euros. Three appearances in their entire history became double that total with Cristiano present.

Trophyless before Ronaldo, Portugal now hold three titles: the Euros and two Nations League crowns.

Historic numbers for Cristiano with Portugal

Over 23 years, Cristiano racked up a string of historic numbers in a Portugal shirt. He is the most-capped player at international level with 234 matches.

The Don is also the all-time top scorer for his country with 146 goals and 45 assists, and the only player in history to score at six different World Cups.

He has become the all-time top scorer at the European Championship with 14 goals, and the leading Portuguese scorer at the World Cup with 11.

Ronaldo changes the Portuguese mentality

Cristiano Ronaldo did not settle for goals alone. His words from his earliest days with Portugal about the need to win titles completely changed Portuguese ambition.

Qualifying for the World Cup and the European Championship had once been the dream. It became routine, and the goal shifted to winning silverware.

Some mocked Ronaldo when he said his greatest dream was to be the best player in the world while winning titles for Portugal. He kept his promise, leading "the Navigators" onto the winners' podium three times, something fans had never dared imagine.

His presence also imposed plenty on opponents and raised the ambition of every Portuguese. Many former stars in Portugal and beyond testify to it.

Among the farewell messages on Thursday, former stars and even clubs thanked Cristiano, saying he inspired them to succeed and to chase what some might call impossible.

Cristiano and an immortal impact on Portugal

Remember this. At 18 years and six months old, Cristiano did not join one of the giants of world football. Portugal were a middling team who could play the dark horse and deliver entertaining football, never an extraordinary candidate for titles.

Ronaldo's retirement will not end his role in Portuguese football. What he achieved, what he changed in the minds of the youngsters and what he planted in their souls will leave its mark for decades to come.

Many in Portugal, and beyond, now call Ronaldo a source of inspiration to insist on success and never surrender in the face of what others call impossible.

What Cristiano gave Portugal is perhaps best summed up by Portuguese Economy Minister Manuel Castro Almeida, who said "many do not know Portugal except because of Cristiano Ronaldo", adding that the star's importance vastly exceeds the boundaries of football and makes him a major economic and civilisational value for the country.