Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an illustrious 23-year career with the national team to an end.
The 41-year-old forward made the announcement on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in an emotional farewell message, confirming that he would hand over Portugal’s iconic number seven shirt after the November international break.
Ronaldo, who made his international debut in August 2003, leaves Portugal as the country’s most celebrated footballer and the holder of the men’s international records for appearances and goals.
He made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored an incredible 146 goals.
In his farewell message, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner described the decision as difficult, saying it was made with both his head and heart.
He thanked the Portuguese people, his family, teammates, coaches and everyone who supported him throughout his international journey.
Ronaldo captained Portugal to its historic Euro 2016 triumph and also helped the country win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
His international career also saw him feature in six FIFA World Cup tournaments, establishing himself as one of the most influential players in football history.
His retirement announcement comes weeks after a reported disagreement with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus, following which he left the national team’s training camp and received a suspension from the Portuguese Football Federation.
Despite ending his international career, Ronaldo has not retired from professional football. He remains an active player with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr and has previously expressed his ambition to reach 1,000 career goals.
His departure from Portugal marks the end of a remarkable chapter in international football.
