Cristiano Ronaldo announces retirement from Portugal national team
The Portuguese forward ended his international career after 23 years and 234 appearances for his country, according to the Times of India.
Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo announced his intention to retire from the national team in a social media post on Thursday. In an 866-word message, Ronaldo stated that the time had come for him to hand back the number 7 shirt of the national team.
The forward's international journey began in August 2003. According to the Times of India, Ronaldo has made 234 international appearances and scored 146 goals for his nation, a record for any men's footballer.
During his career, Ronaldo won the 2016 European Championship and two Nations League titles. His final World Cup appearance occurred on July 6, 2026, when Portugal lost to Spain in a Round of 16 match.
Ronaldo was 41 years old during that knockout match, making him the oldest player to feature in a World Cup knockout game. He scored three goals during this summer's World Cup tournament.
While he is stepping away from international football, Ronaldo will continue playing at the club level. He is currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia and is working towards reaching 1,000 career goals, having scored 985 to date.