Cristiano Ronaldo retires from Portugal duty, closing a 23-year international career that produced world-record totals and two major trophies. The 41-year-old forward announced the decision in an Instagram video, saying the moment had arrived to give up the number seven shirt he had worn since his debut in 2003.
Ronaldo leaves with 146 goals and 234 caps for Portugal, both world records. He described the decision as one made with the heart as well as the mind, and said the shirt had never belonged to him alone. The journey that began in August 2003, he said, had changed his life.
A record-breaking international career
Across more than two decades, Ronaldo appeared at six European Championships. Portugal lost the 2004 final on home soil but won the tournament in 2016. He also won the Nations League with Portugal in 2019 and again in 2025.
His international farewell follows a turbulent final chapter. After being left out of the starting XI for a Nations League match against Denmark, Ronaldo walked out of the Portugal camp in September. He later issued a statement insisting he was not retiring and accusing coach Jorge Jesus of twice breaking his word. Jesus said the door remained open for a return, while the Portuguese Football Federation fined Ronaldo £215 and suspended him for 30 days, a period that contained no Portugal fixtures.
World Cup exit and a diminished role
Ronaldo played at his sixth World Cup in the summer, where Portugal were eliminated by eventual champions Spain in the last 16. His performances drew media criticism, with observers questioning whether he remained a force at international level. Tensions with Jesus surfaced after Ronaldo was named as a substitute against Norway and reportedly reacted angrily to warming up without being brought on. It was the first time he had been an unused substitute in a competitive Portugal match since 2008.
Federation plans a tribute
Portugal will announce their squad on Friday for this month’s Nations League fixtures, which include a home match against Denmark and an away trip to Wales. The Portuguese Football Federation said it would not allow the farewell to pass without a proper tribute, expressing a strong desire to organise and take part in an event where fans and the country can applaud Ronaldo’s career.
Ronaldo’s announcement comes shortly after his long-time rival Lionel Messi retired from international football with Argentina in October, in front of 85,000 spectators in Buenos Aires. The two players defined an era of the sport, and their near-simultaneous exits mark the end of a remarkable chapter for both national teams.
