Cristiano Ronaldo announces retirement from Portugal national team
The 41-year-old forward will hand back his number 7 shirt after the November international break.
Cristiano Ronaldo announced his intention to retire from the Portugal national team on Thursday via a social media post, according to reports by The Tribune and Sportstar. The 41-year-old forward has made 234 appearances for his country and scored 146 goals.
Ronaldo, who holds the all-time records for international appearances and goals, said he would hand back the number 7 shirt after the November international break. He noted that the decision was not made with the mind alone but also with the heart.
During his 23-year career, Ronaldo captained Portugal to a Euro 2016 title and won the 2018/19 and 2024/25 UEFA Nations League titles. He thanked his family, teammates, coaches, staff, and the Portuguese people in his announcement.
The announcement follows a dispute between Ronaldo and head coach Jorge Jesus during the October international window. Sportstar reported that Ronaldo left the national team camp after Jesus did not bring him on in a Nations League match against Norway, leading to a 30-day suspension from the Portuguese Football Federation.
Ronaldo had been named in the preliminary squad for next week's Nations League matches following the conclusion of that suspension. In his statement, he said he always pushed himself beyond his limits and felt proud to represent Portugal.