Cristiano Ronaldo retires from Portugal international football duty
The 41-year-old forward ends a 23-year career with 146 goals and 234 appearances for the national team.
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, ending a 23-year career with Portugal. The 41-year-old shared the news through a five-minute video on his social media accounts on Thursday, November 5, according to the Times of India.
In the video, Ronaldo addressed the Portuguese public, stating that the time had arrived for him to return the national team's number 7 shirt to the future. He described the decision as one made with both the head and the heart, noting that his journey began in August 2003.
Ronaldo leaves the national team as the highest scorer and most-capped player in men's international football history. He recorded 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal.
The forward captained Portugal to three major honours, including the 2016 European Championship and the UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. He also became the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cups.
His final tournament appearance was the 2026 World Cup, where Portugal lost 1-0 to Spain in the round of 16 on July 6 in Dallas. Ronaldo had indicated following that match that it would be his last World Cup appearance.
