The captain of Portugal, Bernardo Silva, said about Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement from the national team: "Cristiano's career was long and I had the honor of playing alongside him for 12 years. "There is a lot of sadness, because sooner or later that day will come, but we will continue on this path."
He said: "We are trying to honor Cristiano's memory and thank him for everything he gave to the team."
The 32-year-old Silva is considered the Portugal captain now and after Ronaldo's departure due to the number of national caps.
According to AAS, in a press conference before the match against Denmark in week five of the UEFA Nations League, he said of the post-Ronaldo era: "A new generation is rising and it is a great honor to be the captain of the team. "This responsibility is not on one player only and never was and will not be in the future, but on the shoulders of experienced players."
The Portugal captain said that the veteran players of the team will try to welcome the younger generation and maintain a high level of commitment to the team.