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Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From International Football

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Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From International Football

The Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football after 23 years with the national team.
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The 41-year-old forward announced the decision in an emotional message shared on his Instagram account on Thursday, saying he was handing over Portugal’s number seven shirt after a career he described as life-changing.

“The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo said.

He added, “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.

“Today, the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart.”

Ronaldo, who made his senior international debut in August 2003, said his journey with Portugal had come to an end, reflecting on the people and experiences that shaped his time with the team.

“A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end. When I look back at everything with the national team, I don’t just see the matches, goals, records or trophies.

“I see people. I see the Portuguese people living abroad who, for 90 minutes, felt a little closer to home. I see millions of Portuguese people I have never met but who became part of my life. Because at the end of the day, football is so much bigger than a game. Football is about people,” he added.

𝐑𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥

Credit: X | Cristiano
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“Throughout my entire career with the national team, I always pushed myself beyond my limits.

“I wanted to win, I wanted to be better, I wanted to make history. I always demanded the most of myself. I always wanted more. I always believed we could go further. And I gave everything I had for this shirt,” he said.

He also acknowledged the defeats and occasions when he felt he had not met the expectations of Portuguese supporters.

“I made mistakes. I suffered. There were also moments when I couldn’t give the Portuguese people what they so desperately wanted. But I never gave up. And above all, I never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal,” he said.

Ronaldo leaves the national team as the highest-scoring player in men’s international football, with 146 goals in 234 appearances, according to UEFA figures updated in October 2026.

He is also the most-capped male international footballer in history, having surpassed Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa’s record. Ronaldo became the first player to score at six different World Cup tournaments in 2026.

His international career began on August 20, 2003, against Kazakhstan, before he featured at the 2004 European Championship, where Portugal finished as runners-up after losing the final to Greece.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo

He captained Portugal to their first major international trophy at Euro 2016, despite being forced off injured during the final against France. The country subsequently won the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019 and lifted the trophy again in 2025.

Beyond international football, Ronaldo established himself as one of the most decorated players in the sport. He has won five Ballon d’Or awards and five UEFA Champions League titles, while playing for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, among others.

He also won league titles in England, Spain and Italy, and became Real Madrid’s all-time leading goalscorer during his nine-year spell at the Spanish club.

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Police Rescue Abducted APC Chairman Abdullahi Beli in Kano

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Police Rescue Abducted APC Chairman Abdullahi Beli in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has rescued the All Progressives Congress Chairman in Rogo Local Government Area, Abdullahi Beli, popularly known as Abdullahi Fanka, after 68 days in captivity.
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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf commended the police command, led by Commissioner of Police Adamu Bakori, for securing the release of the party chairman.

The governor’s commendation was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Sunusi Tofa.

Online media reports that Beli was abducted by armed men from his residence in Beli community, Rogo Local Government Area.

The rescued chairman, while recounting his ordeal, said his abductors moved him through several locations, including Danja, Ikara and Giwa in Kaduna State, as well as parts of Zamfara State.

The Commissioner of Police disclosed the rescue during a briefing with the governor at the Government House, Kano.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intensifying efforts to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.

In his response, Yusuf praised the police commissioner and other personnel involved in the operation.

“I specifically acknowledged the contributions of the Officer-in-Charge of the Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad, CSP Aliyu Muhammad Auwal; CSP Ado Muhammad Audi; and the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.

Police

Police

“I’m also directing the state Commissioner for Health to ensure that the rescued chairman received comprehensive medical attention and psychosocial rehabilitation at the expense of the state government,” Yusuf said.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting security agencies in protecting lives and property and ensuring the safety of residents across the state.
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Obi Accuses NFF Officials Of Blocking Him From Greeting Nigeria’s Flamingos, Says They Feared Losing Jobs

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Peter Obi

Obi Accuses NFF Officials Of Blocking Him From Greeting Nigeria’s Flamingos, Says They Feared Losing Jobs

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from greeting members of Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, at an airport on Monday, allegedly because they feared losing their jobs.
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Obi described the incident as another example of what he called the growing culture of “toxic politics” in Nigeria, claiming that political differences were increasingly being allowed to undermine national unity and ordinary human interactions.

In a statement posted on his X account on Monday, the former Anambra State governor said he arrived at the airport at about 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu when he saw the young footballers, who had just arrived and were preparing to leave the airport.

He said he asked his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet and welcome the players but was informed that NFF officials had objected to the idea.

“I arrived at the airport at 7 a.m. this morning to board my flight to Enugu. There, I saw the Nigeria Under-17 girls’ team, which had just arrived and was preparing to board its vehicle into town,” Obi wrote.

“With genuine joy and enthusiasm, I asked my Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether I could greet and welcome the team. I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had refused and had requested that I not approach them because, if I did, they would all lose their jobs.”

Obi said the incident was not the first time he had allegedly been prevented from interacting with Nigerian footballers because of concerns that officials could face consequences.

He recalled that on March 25, 2025, when he travelled to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for a World Cup qualifying match, he was similarly prevented from greeting players after the game.

According to him, the governor had welcomed him at the VIP stand, but other government officials who went to greet the players were allegedly stopped from allowing him to do the same.

“Regrettably, this is not the first time I have been subjected to such treatment. On March 25, 2025, I was in Uyo for the World Cup qualifier. The governor warmly received me and welcomed me at the VIP stand. Following the match, other government officials went to greet the players, but I was again prevented from doing so. I was told by the officials that they would lose their jobs if I proceeded,” he said.

The NDC presidential candidate said the incidents reflected what he described as a deterioration in Nigeria’s political environment since 2025.

“It is deeply troubling to witness the extent of toxic politics into which our nation has descended since 2025. Each year appears to bring further deterioration. This reflects how deeply Nigeria has been affected,” he stated.

Obi called for a political environment in which citizens could interact freely regardless of their political affiliations, insisting that hostility and intimidation should have no place in the country.

“The new Nigeria we aspire to build must have no room for hostility, intimidation, or discrimination, regardless of political affiliation. It must be a Nigeria in which unity, mutual respect, and our shared humanity take precedence over political differences,” he added.

Obi Had Congratulated Flamingos After World Cup Triumph

Obi’s complaint came a day after he congratulated the Flamingos following their triumph at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

In a separate post on Sunday, he praised the players for their performance and described their achievement as a source of national pride.

“FLAMINGOS: YOU HAVE MADE NIGERIA PROUD,” he wrote.

“I extend my warmest congratulations to our exceptional Flamingos on their historic triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

World Cup

World Cup

“To our talented young stars, thank you for raising our flag high and bringing immense joy to our nation. Your remarkable talent, resilience, hard work and dedication have earned you a special place in the hearts of Nigerians.

“You have made our nation proud, and we truly appreciate your outstanding efforts.

“Congratulations, champions!”
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Police Warn Motorists Against One-way Driving in FCT

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Police Warn Motorists Against One-way Driving in FCT

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has warned motorists against driving against traffic, popularly known as one-way, threatening the arrest and prosecution of offenders regardless of their connections or attempts to secure intervention from influential individuals.
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The command also cautioned motorists against disregarding traffic signs and bypassing diversions, particularly around road construction sites and areas where traffic movement has been restricted.

The warning was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, who said the command was concerned about the increasing disregard for traffic regulations by some motorists.

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, was quoted as warning that contacting senior police officers, government officials or influential personalities would not exempt offenders from the consequences of traffic violations.

“No individual, regardless of status, position or connections, will be exempted from the consequences of violating traffic regulations,” the statement said.

Sanusi consequently directed the command’s Motor Traffic Department and all Divisional Traffic Officers to work with the Federal Road Safety Corps and other relevant traffic management agencies to intensify enforcement operations.

He ordered the arrest and immediate prosecution of motorists caught driving against traffic or disobeying lawful traffic directions.

The police commissioner also warned enforcement officers against using the exercise to extort motorists, saying officers found engaging in such conduct would face disciplinary action in accordance with existing police rules and regulations.

It added that road users should understand that the few minutes saved through reckless driving were not worth the risk of losing lives or damaging property.

Police

Police

The police also urged residents to remain security conscious and report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station.

Earlier in August 2026, the Command warned motorists against driving against traffic, popularly known as “one-way”, reckless driving and other violations capable of causing accidents, traffic congestion and loss of lives and property.

The warning followed a directive by the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Sanusi, to all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and personnel of the Motor Traffic Division (MOTOPOL) to step up enforcement of traffic laws across the territory.
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