Portugal begin life without Ronaldo as a defining sporting figure

Portugal are beginning their first match without Cristiano Ronaldo after a 23-year international career in which he became both the country’s record goalscorer and its defining sporting figure. His departure matters beyond the loss of his goals: he drew worldwide attention to Portugal and became a source of national identity for supporters.

Ronaldo finished with 234 appearances and 146 goals, and his personal brand is valued at €850m, according to marketing executive Daniel Sá. Portugal still have a deep squad, including Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, João Neves, Nuno Mendes and Diogo Costa, but former teammates say those players must now take greater responsibility. The article describes Ronaldo’s exit as an emotional transition and suggests his influence will be difficult to reproduce.