Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing to an end one of the most celebrated careers in the history of the game.
The 41-year-old shared the news on Thursday in a video message on social media, telling supporters the time had come to “hand back the number 7 shirt” of the Portugal national team.
“It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not made only with the head. They are also made with the heart,” Ronaldo said.
Ronaldo made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals, both all-time records in men’s international football. He captained Portugal to their first major trophy at Euro 2016 and helped them win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
His final appearance for his country came on 24 September, in a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales. He was left on the bench for the following match and later left the training camp after a falling-out with coach Jorge Jesus.
The Portuguese Football Federation said it had “deep gratitude and immense admiration” for Ronaldo’s service to the country and said it intends to organise a tribute in which fans can applaud him once more.
Ronaldo will continue playing at club level with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he is chasing his 1,000th career goal and currently stands on 985.
Source: Al Jazeera — https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/11/5/cristiano-ronaldo-announces-retirement-from-international-football
