Khabib On Ronaldo's Shocking Retirement

Khabib Nurmagomedov posted a lengthy tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo after the football legend announced his retirement from international competition.

Ronaldo shocked the sports world earlier this week when he confirmed he was stepping away from Portugal's national team, per MMA Mania. The 41-year-old received a 30-day suspension after a dispute with Portugal's new head coach, Jorge Jesus, and chose to end his 23-year international career rather than return.

Khabib's Tribute To Football Icon

The former UFC lightweight champion, who has formed a close friendship with Ronaldo over the years, took to Instagram to salute the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. "When you give it your all, you become obsolete," Nurmagomedov wrote. "There are the best ones, and there are the best of the best. Ronaldo belongs among the best of the best."

Nurmagomedov went further in his post, describing Ronaldo as a "giant" whose mentality is difficult for most people to comprehend. The retired fighter, who went 29-0 before hanging up his gloves in 2020, praised Ronaldo's contributions to football while criticizing how teams treated the forward despite his commitment.

Ronaldo released a five-minute video confirming the news. He said he never felt the No. 7 shirt belonged to him alone but carried it with pride for over two decades in stadiums around the world. The Portuguese star ranks among the highest-paid athletes in the world and has appeared on Forbes' top earners list multiple times.

Photo: Russian Presidential Press and Information Office / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — Khabib Nurmagomedov Sends Cristiano Ronaldo Heartfelt Message After Retirement | MMA Mania