Cristiano Ronaldo retires from Portuguese national team after 23 years
The 41-year-old forward ends his international career following a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus, leaving behind a record 146 goals for his country.
By Zoe Harrison ·
Cristiano Ronaldo has officially stepped down from the Portuguese national team, ending a 23-year tenure that saw him become the all-time top scorer in men's international soccer. The 41-year-old announced the decision in a video message on social media on Thursday, stating that the day had come to hand back the No. 7 shirt.
Ronaldo’s journey with the national side began in August 2003, shortly before the 2004 European Championship. He entered the match as a substitute for Luis Figo in a friendly against Kazakhstan. That debut marked the start of an era where Portugal went from a team that had never won a major trophy to a regular contender in global tournaments.
During his time with the team, Portugal secured its first major title at Euro 2016. The squad also won the Nations League in 2019 and 2025. Ronaldo’s presence helped change the team’s trajectory at the World Cup. Before his arrival, Portugal had qualified for only three tournaments. Under his influence, the team qualified for every subsequent edition. He scored in six different World Cups, a first for a male player, and finished this year’s tournament with 11 goals, breaking the national record previously held by Eusebio.
The path to his departure became contentious in the autumn. On Sept. 24, Portugal defeated Wales 1-0 in a Nations League match. Following that game, coach Jorge Jesus kept Ronaldo on the bench for the next fixture and indicated he would not start him in the one after that. Ronaldo decided to leave the training camp after the decision. Jesus later stated that Ronaldo would be welcome back if he chose to return.
Ronaldo explained his final decision in the video, noting that the choice was not made with the mind alone but with the heart. He said the journey that began in Madeira as a young boy chasing a football had reached its conclusion. He added that while he made mistakes and suffered defeats, he never stopped feeling proud to represent his country.
The Portuguese soccer federation issued a statement expressing deep gratitude and immense admiration for his service. The organization called him the greatest player of all time and said he inspired generations of young people. The federation plans to organize a tribute event where fans can celebrate his career.
Ronaldo will continue to play at the club level. He is currently with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia and is expected to finish the season there. He is chasing his 1,000th career goal and currently has 985. Of those, 146 came in 234 appearances for Portugal. He holds the record for most appearances in men's international soccer and the most goals and appearances in the European Championship.
In his final remarks, Ronaldo thanked the people for believing in him. He described his greatest victory as earning the honor of representing his country. The No. 7 shirt will remain with the team, but he said the pride of having worn it would be his forever.
