Piers Morgan crowns Ronaldo the GOAT after Portugal retirement

British broadcaster Piers Morgan has listed three of Cristiano Ronaldo's greatest achievements with the Portugal national team.

Morgan was reacting to Ronaldo's retirement from international football.

The 41-year-old forward announced his decision on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

Ronaldo made the call after being suspended by the Portuguese Football Federation.

The suspension followed his reported walkout from the team's camp during the Nations League.

Morgan, a longtime supporter of Ronaldo, labeled the Al-Nassr forward the greatest footballer of all time.

"Cristiano Ronaldo announces his retirement from international football in an emotional and heartfelt video," Morgan wrote on social media.

He then listed three specific records.

"He played the most games ever (234)," Morgan said.

"He scored the most goals ever (146)," Morgan continued.

"He led Portugal to their only major trophies (3)," Morgan added.

Morgan concluded: "He is the GOAT. Congrats @Cristiano."

GOAT stands for "Greatest of All Time."

The term is commonly used in sports to praise athletes at the top of their field.

Ronaldo's retirement brings an end to a 23-year international career.

He made his debut for Portugal in August 2003.

In his announcement video, Ronaldo addressed the Portuguese people directly.

"To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team," Ronaldo said.

"I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world," he continued.

"Today the time has come to pass it on to the future," Ronaldo said.

"It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the mind alone — they are also made with the heart," he added.

"A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end," Ronaldo concluded.

Ronaldo's 234 appearances for Portugal are the most of any player in international football history.

His 146 goals for his country are also a world record.

Under his leadership, Portugal won three major trophies: the 2016 European Championship, the 2019 Nations League, and the 2023 Nations League.

Those three titles are the only major trophies Portugal has ever won.

Morgan's post drew immediate attention from fans and media.

The timing of the retirement followed a turbulent few weeks for Ronaldo.

His suspension by the Portuguese FA for walking out of the Nations League camp was widely reported.

The incident occurred during Portugal's campaign in the 2026-27 Nations League.

Ronaldo's decision to retire from international football had been speculated about for years.

At 41, he is one of the oldest players to have competed at the highest level.

His club career continues with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Morgan has been one of Ronaldo's most vocal supporters in the media.

The two have a public friendship, with Morgan frequently defending Ronaldo against criticism.

Morgan's latest tribute reinforces his long-held view that Ronaldo is superior to other football legends.

He has previously compared Ronaldo's career to those of Lionel Messi and Pelé.

Morgan's social media post did not mention the Beckham family feud.

But the timing of his tribute — coming just as the Beckham family drama is trending — has drawn notice.

Some observers have pointed out that Morgan's focus on Ronaldo's Portugal legacy shifts attention away from other celebrity news.

Morgan has been involved in public disputes with several members of the Beckham family in the past.

His relationship with David Beckham has been strained for years.

Morgan has criticized Beckham's playing career and his business decisions.

The Beckham family feud has been a recurring topic in British tabloids.

Morgan's decision to highlight Ronaldo's achievements at this moment has been interpreted by some as a deliberate move.

Ronaldo's retirement marks the end of an era for Portuguese football.

He is widely considered the most decorated player in the nation's history.

His records — most caps, most goals, most trophies — are unlikely to be broken anytime soon.

The Portuguese Football Federation has not yet commented on Ronaldo's retirement.

No successor has been named for the number seven shirt.

Ronaldo's final appearance for Portugal was in the Nations League match that led to his suspension.