Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday his international retirement from the Portugal national team, after 23 years, 234 caps and 146 goals, both men’s international records.
The 41-year-old forward announced it in a video of about five minutes posted on his social media, in which he read a letter addressed to Portuguese fans. “The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo said, adding that he never felt the shirt belonged to him alone.
The decision ends a Portugal career that began in August 2003, when he debuted at 18 against Kazakhstan. Since then, Ronaldo played six World Cups and became the first player to score in six World Cups. With the national team he won Euro 2016 and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
The announcement does not mean the end of his career as a footballer. Ronaldo remains at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, under contract until June 2027, and is chasing the 1,000th goal of his career: he has 985. In August he told Vogue magazine that this is probably his last year as a footballer.
His last match for Portugal was on September 24, 2026, a 1-0 win over Wales in Lisbon in the Nations League, with João Félix scoring in the 22nd minute. At the 2026 World Cup, Portugal were eliminated in the round of 16 with a 1-0 defeat to Spain, who went on to become champions.
The farewell comes after a conflict with coach Jorge Jesus, who did not use him in the 2-1 defeat to Norway on September 27. Ronaldo accused the coach of “broken promises” in a statement on October 6 and left the camp on September 30, before the match against Denmark. The federation suspended him for 30 days and fined him 255 euros. After the announcement, Jesus said the decision was Ronaldo’s and that he wanted him to keep playing.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) thanked the “eternal captain” and said it refuses to let this farewell take place without due tribute. “This will always be your home,” the federation wrote, also cheering the chase for goal 1,000: “Vamos ao golo 1000!!!” A tribute match is possible, though no date, venue or opponent has been confirmed.
Ronaldo’s announcement comes months after Lionel Messi also announced his international retirement, in July 2026, after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain.
Source: Reuters, USA Today, UEFA.com.
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