Cristiano Ronaldo Announces Portugal Retirement After 23 Years and a Record 146 Goals

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, closing one of the great careers in the history of the game. The 41-year-old confirmed the decision on Thursday in a five-minute video message shared on his social media accounts, telling supporters that the time had come to hand back Portugal's famous number seven shirt. Ronaldo made his senior debut for Portugal in August 2003 and went on to earn a record 234 caps, scoring a record 146 international goals. He captained his country to the European Championship in 2016 and to Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025, and he played at six World Cups between 2006 and 2026. His final appearance came in a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales in September. The announcement follows a turbulent autumn with the national team. After Portugal's World Cup exit in July, Jorge Jesus took over as head coach, and Ronaldo was left on the bench for the Nations League win over Norway before walking out of the training camp. The Portuguese Football Federation opened disciplinary proceedings and provisionally suspended him, and he was later fined and suspended for 30 days. In his farewell message, Ronaldo said he was leaving with his head held high and pride in the path he took, adding that Portugal would always be in him. He is not retiring from club football and continues with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he has scored nine goals in 12 appearances this season.