A Moment of Truth: The First International Break of the 2024/2025 Season

The first international break of the 2024/2025 season was a memorable one, and though no major tournament took place, it will live long in the hearts of many football fans.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 900th career goal in Lisbon, at the very stadium where he netted his first. It was a heartwarming and emotional moment for fans around the world. The 39-year-old couldn’t contain his emotions as he fell to the ground in tears of joy. The all-time great told the press, “Only me and the people around me know how difficult it is to work daily, both physically and psychologically, to reach 900 goals.” He also scored the winner in Portugal’s match against Scotland. Ronaldo started the game on the bench, but with Portugal a goal down at halftime, he was brought on and changed the match.

International football also said farewell to two legends: Pepe of Portugal and Luis Suárez of Uruguay. It was an emotional moment for fans of both nations as they bid goodbye to players who played a great role in their countries success from 2009 to 2024.

Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane both celebrated important international milestones, reaching 100 appearances for Egypt and England, respectively. Both players marked the occasion with a goal. Kane told the press that he hopes to score 100 goals for England, and with his current form, he will achieve this milestone by 2028, at the age of 35.

Jack Grealish and Declan Rice returned to Dublin with the England squad to face the team they once represented at the international level. The Ireland fans threw insults at both players, but it didn’t affect their performances, as both got on the scoresheet. Grealish been the player he is celebrated his goal right in front of the Irish supporters.

Ademola Lookman scored twice in Nigeria’s victory over Benin Republic. The 2024 Ballon d'Or nominee delivered a breathtaking performance, proving why he deserves to be the African Footballer of the Year. Victor Osimhen came off the bench and scored just six minutes into his first match of the season, reinforcing his reputation as one of the best strikers in the world.

The Super Eagles' success wouldn’t have been possible without the tactical brilliance of interim coach Austin Eguavoen. The 59-year-old employed a cautious yet effective 3-4-3 formation, earning Nigeria their first win in three matches.

Riyad Mahrez made his return to the Algerian national team, scoring in his first match since January. Mahrez had missed the last two international windows due to a fallout with head coach Vladimir Petković.

Angola extended their unbeaten run to 10 games, including a victory over Ghana in Kumasi. The country of more than 35 million people continues to make its presence felt in African football.

18-year-old sensation made his debut for the Atlas Lions of Morocco, playing a crucial role in the team’s wins against Gabon and Lesotho. He was the highest African full-backs in the international window, earning an 8/10 rating from ActuFootAfrique.

While the international break was filled with memorable moments, there were also painful ones. Brazil’s defeat to Paraguay was a bitter pill for fans to swallow. The Seleção now sit fifth in the CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying table, level on points with sixth-placed Venezuela, and just one point ahead of eighth-placed Bolivia. Brazil will need to improve quickly, as fifth place is the final qualification spot. Vinícius Júnior apologized to fans and assured them the team would bounce back.

Another notable setback was Martin Ødegaard’s injury during Norway’s match against Austria, which will sideline him for at least three weeks.