Cristiano Ronaldo announces retirement from Portugal international football
The 41-year-old forward retires as the highest goalscorer in men's international football with 146 goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football for Portugal on Thursday, according to reports by Sportstar and Al Jazeera. The 41-year-old forward stated he would hand back the number 7 shirt after a career with the national team that began in August 2003.
Ronaldo finished his international career with 234 appearances and 146 goals, holding the all-time records for both international appearances and goals. His achievements include winning the 2016 European Championships and the 2018/19 and 2024/25 UEFA Nations League titles.
The announcement follows a dispute between Ronaldo and head coach Jorge Jesus during the October international window. Ronaldo left the national team camp after Jesus refused to bring him on in a Nations League match against Norway, leading the player to accuse the coach of breaking a promise regarding game time.
The Portuguese Football Federation previously handed Ronaldo a 30-day suspension for walking out, which was backdated. The federation expressed deep gratitude and admiration for his service, stating he has inspired generations of young people.
In a statement, Ronaldo said the decision was not easy and was made with both the head and the heart. He noted that he always pushed himself to make history and felt proud to represent the country.
Ronaldo is expected to continue playing at the club level with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese Football Federation said it intends to organise a tribute to celebrate the player.
