Portugal: the incredible Cristiano Ronaldo effect after his departure

Ronaldo’s departure from the Portugal camp triggered a spectacular rise in searches for his shirt

Europe Today at 13:30

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Portugal: the incredible Cristiano Ronaldo effect after his departure

At the centre of a controversy and reportedly close to international retirement, Cristiano Ronaldo nevertheless continues to send the numbers soaring around Portugal.

The Cristiano Ronaldo saga continues to grow in Portugal. Having left the Seleção camp after several days of tension surrounding his situation, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner nevertheless remains the focus of everyone’s attention. According to O Jogo, the 41-year-old striker may even have decided never to wear the Portugal shirt again.

That possibility immediately triggered a wave of interest in his name. According to data shared by JD Sports, worldwide Google searches for the term “Portugal CR7” jumped by 467% in just 24 hours after his departure from the camp.

Searches for his shirt soar

The effect is also being felt directly in commercial interest. Over the same period, searches related to buying Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal shirt rose by 185%. If the end of his international career were to be confirmed, his last Seleção shirt could quickly take on an even stronger symbolic significance among his supporters.

The phenomenon once again illustrates the Portuguese forward’s extraordinary media impact. Even in the midst of a negative spell, Ronaldo continues to generate global attention rarely matched in football.

Portugal wants to calm the saga

At the same time, those around the national team are trying to temporarily close the matter. The Portuguese players remain very cautious when questioned about their former captain. Jorge Jesus has also chosen to postpone his explanations, saying that he would return to the subject once the international break was over.

The Portugal manager promised to speak out without avoiding the subject after the camp’s final two matches. Portugal have since beaten Denmark 4-2, but Ronaldo’s international future continues to dominate the spotlight.

An uncertain end to his career

For now, Cristiano Ronaldo has still not officially announced a possible international retirement. The situation therefore remains dependent on a statement from the man himself. But the figures revealed by JD Sports already show one thing: even away from the pitch, CR7 continues to sell and make headlines.