Lisbon, Nov 2026 : Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on an extraordinary 23-year career with Portugal during which he established himself as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
The 41-year-old forward confirmed his decision through an emotional video message posted on Instagram on Thursday. Ronaldo said he would bring his international career to an end following the upcoming international break, marking the conclusion of a remarkable journey as Portugal's captain and leading goal scorer.
Ronaldo retires holding the records for the most goals and appearances in men's international football. Since making his senior debut for Portugal in August 2003, aged 18, he has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for his country. His international career included participation in six FIFA World Cups and six European Championships.
One of the biggest achievements of his career came in 2016, when he captained Portugal to its maiden major international trophy at the UEFA European Championship in France. Although an injury forced him to leave the final against France early, Portugal went on to secure a historic 1-0 victory.
He subsequently guided the national team to two UEFA Nations League titles, in 2019 and 2025, further strengthening his legacy as one of Portugal's most influential sporting figures.
The retirement announcement follows Portugal's exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament Ronaldo had previously identified as his final appearance at the global showpiece. His decision also comes amid reported differences with head coach Jorge Jesus over his playing time during recent international fixtures.
Despite the disagreements, Ronaldo had earlier expressed his willingness to continue representing his country. However, his latest announcement signals the beginning of a transition for Portugal, with the national team now expected to look towards a younger generation of players.
In his farewell message, Ronaldo reflected on the responsibility and pride associated with wearing Portugal's famous number seven shirt. He said he was now ready to hand it over to the next generation.
“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team. I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world,” he said.
Explaining the emotional nature of his decision, Ronaldo added that ending his international career had not been easy.
“Today the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the mind alone — they are also made with the heart. A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end,” he said.
Ronaldo's departure leaves Portugal without its most prolific international scorer and one of the defining figures of its modern football era. His record-breaking achievements, leadership and contribution to the country's major tournament successes will remain central to Portugal's football history.
However, retirement from international duty does not mean the end of his professional playing career. Ronaldo is expected to continue playing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, where he remains a major figure in the sport.
His international career may have ended, but his influence on Portuguese and world football is likely to endure for generations.
