'Thank you for everything' - Cristiano Ronaldo's sister sends telling message after Portugal departure

Cristiano Ronaldo's sister has sent an Instagram post thanking the Portugal star for his service after he recently departed national team duty.

Ronaldo, 41, has played 234 games for Portugal during his career. He played 67 minutes against Wales in the opening game of the current international break, but was then an unused substitute against Norway in the following game.

Ronaldo has since departed the national team and will play no part in the next two games.

There feels to be a strong chance this is it for Ronaldo's international career, and a message from his sister on Instagram is telling.

Elma wrote: 'Everything has been said here' 'CR7 deserved more respect. The national team deserved more structure. 'Portuguese journalism deserved more competence and less speculation. 'As for the Portuguese people, well... they don't deserve to have the best at anything. 'We are envious, disdainful, ignorant, and we deserve to return to the mediocrity we always had in football before CR7. 'Thank you for everything, CR7! You deserved more!'

Cristiano Ronaldo plans to tell all

Portugal boss Jorge Jesus stated in a press conference that he felt dropping Ronaldo against Norway was what was best for the team.

The striker responded on Instagram: 'Following the national team manager's press conference, and after a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team camp.

'In due course, I will tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that led to my departure from the national team, to which I have always given my full commitment.

'For now, it is time to wish Portugal and all my team-mates, without exception, the very best of luck.'

The Portuguese Federation's rulebook states that any player who leaves the camp can be hit with a six-month ban, which would also carry a fine.

A player as rich as Ronaldo is will not care about a fine, and the ban might only expedite his retirement from the national team, if that's not something he's already planning on doing.