Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From International Football After 23 Years

Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football after 23 years with Portugal, he announced on Thursday. The 41-year-old forward leaves as the world’s record holder for both men’s international goals and appearances. He scored 146 goals in 234 matches.

Ronaldo shared the news in a long video on Instagram. “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,” he said.

Why Cristiano Ronaldo retires now

The decision follows a difficult few months. Ronaldo started every game at this summer’s World Cup, his sixth. However, Portugal lost to Spain, the eventual champions, in the last 16. Afterwards, many observers questioned whether he was still a force at international level.

He then fell out with new coach Jorge Jesus. First, Ronaldo was left on the bench for a Nations League match against Norway. According to the BBC, it was the first time since 2008 that he had sat out a competitive Portugal match without coming on.

Then, in September, Jesus told him he would not be in the starting line-up against Denmark. In response, Ronaldo walked out of the training camp and issued a statement saying he was not retiring. In it, he accused Jesus of twice breaking his word. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) later fined him and banned him for 30 days, although no Portugal games fell in that period.

Jesus later said Ronaldo was welcome to come back. Ronaldo, however, has now chosen to step away. His last appearance came in a Nations League match against Wales in September.

A farewell message from the heart

Ronaldo did not mention the dispute in his video. Instead, he looked back on the highs and lows of his career. “It was not an easy decision,” he said, adding that some decisions are made “with the heart” as well as the mind.

He also admitted he had made mistakes. “There were defeats that still hurt to remember,” he said. Even so, he said he never stopped feeling proud to play for his country.

The FPF thanked him with “deep gratitude and immense admiration”. It also said it plans to organise a public tribute, so fans can celebrate his career one more time.

Records and trophies

Ronaldo made his Portugal debut in August 2003, aged 18. He became captain in 2008 and held the armband for the rest of his international career.

His biggest moment came at Euro 2016 in France. There, he led Portugal to their first major trophy. In addition, he won the Nations League twice, in 2019 and 2025. Portugal had also reached the Euro 2004 final on home soil, but lost.

Overall, he played at six European Championships and six World Cups. Yet Portugal never went beyond the World Cup semi-finals during his career.

The end of an era for Ronaldo and Messi

The announcement comes only weeks after his great rival, Lionel Messi, said goodbye to Argentina. Messi played his final international match in October, in front of about 85,000 fans in Buenos Aires.

For almost two decades, the pair dominated football. Their departures from the international game mark the end of an era for millions of fans. Indeed, the debate over which of them was greater has shaped a generation of football talk. That includes many supporters in Pakistan, where both players have huge followings.

What comes next for Ronaldo and Portugal

Ronaldo is not leaving football altogether. He will keep playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. According to Al Jazeera, he is expected to retire from club football when this season ends. He has scored 985 career goals and is chasing 1,000.

Meanwhile, Portugal will name their squad on Friday for this month’s Nations League games. They face Denmark at home and Wales away. For the first time in more than two decades, the number seven shirt will need a new owner. Whoever wears it next will carry a very heavy weight of expectation.