Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing down the curtain on a Portugal career that lasted 23 years, spanned six World Cups and produced a record 146 goals in 234 appearances. The 41-year-old confirmed the decision in an emotional video message posted on social media on Thursday, 5 November 2026, telling supporters that "the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team".
Ronaldo, who made his Portugal debut in August 2003, leaves as the leading goalscorer in the history of men's international football. He won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and again in 2025. His final appearance came on 24 September, in a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales.
The announcement
In the video, Ronaldo addressed the Portuguese people directly and said the decision had been taken "with the head and heart". He captioned the post in Portuguese: "Portugal estará sempre em mim" — Portugal will always be in me.
"To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team. I never felt it belonged to me alone but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world. Today the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision because some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart. A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end."
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) responded with a statement expressing "deep gratitude and immense admiration" for Ronaldo's service, calling him "the greatest player of all time" for many supporters and saying it intends to organise a tribute "in which the fans and the country can one more time applaud and celebrate a player who has given us so much". The federation said it would not let the farewell take place "without due tribute". Portugal's squad for the November international break is due to be announced on Friday.
A record that may never be matched
Ronaldo's numbers with Portugal stand alone in the men's game. No other player has scored as many international goals, and his 234 caps are also a record. His career with the national team began before Euro 2004 on home soil and took in six World Cups, the last of which — the 2026 tournament — he had said in July would be his final one.
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| International debut | August 2003 |
| Appearances | 234 — a men's world record |
| Goals | 146 — the men's international scoring record |
| World Cups | Six, from 2006 to 2026 |
| Major honours | Euro 2016; Nations League 2019 and 2025 |
| Final appearance | 24 September 2026, 1-0 win over Wales |
His longevity was as remarkable as the goals. Across more than two decades he remained Portugal's captain and first-choice forward, adapting his game from the winger who broke through at Euro 2004 into the penalty-box striker of his later years.
An era closes on both sides of the rivalry. Ronaldo's announcement comes a month after his long-time peer Lionel Messi played a farewell match for Argentina. The two players defined an entire generation of international football; both now leave the international stage within weeks of each other, while continuing — for now — at club level.
An acrimonious ending
According to the Associated Press, the final chapter of Ronaldo's international career was a difficult one. After the 2026 World Cup he fell out with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus during the October international window. Jesus kept him on the bench for one Nations League match and said he did not plan to start him in the next, prompting Ronaldo to walk out of the national team's training camp.
The federation opened disciplinary proceedings and handed Ronaldo a 30-day suspension and a €255 fine on 19 October for leaving the camp. Jesus later said Ronaldo would be welcome back and that the decision to return was up to him. Ronaldo had been named in Portugal's preliminary squad for next week's Nations League matches — at home to Denmark in Braga on Saturday, 14 November, and away to Wales in Cardiff three days later — but Thursday's announcement makes clear that his international career is over.
What is not yet known: the federation has not yet said when or in what form its promised tribute will take place, and it has not confirmed whether Ronaldo will attend either of next week's Nations League fixtures in any capacity. The squad announcement on Friday is expected to confirm the next captain and the post-Ronaldo shape of the team.
What happens next
Retirement from international football does not end Ronaldo's playing career. He remains under contract with Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and is expected to finish his club career at the end of this season, according to the Associated Press. He is also still chasing a personal milestone: he sits on 985 official career goals and is pursuing a 1,000th.
For Portugal, the task now is succession. The November squad announcement will be the first concrete sign of how Jesus and the federation plan life without the player who has carried the team for a generation — and whose shirt, as Ronaldo himself put it, must now be passed on to the future.
Frequently asked questions
When did Cristiano Ronaldo retire from international football?
He announced the decision on Thursday, 5 November 2026, in a video message on social media, saying he would "hand back the No. 7 shirt" after 23 years with Portugal.
How many goals did Ronaldo score for Portugal?
He scored 146 goals in 234 appearances — both men's world records in international football. His final appearance was the 1-0 Nations League win over Wales on 24 September 2026.
Why did his Portugal career end on a sour note?
He fell out with coach Jorge Jesus in October after being left on the bench, walked out of the training camp, and was given a 30-day suspension and a €255 fine by the Portuguese Football Federation.
Will Ronaldo keep playing club football?
Yes. He remains with Saudi club Al Nassr and is expected to finish his club career at the end of this season. He is also chasing his 1,000th career goal, currently on 985.
What has Portugal won with Ronaldo?
The 2016 European Championship and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025 — Portugal's only three major international honours.
Key takeaways
- Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, announced his retirement from international football on 5 November 2026, ending a 23-year Portugal career.
- He leaves with 146 goals in 234 appearances — both men's world records — plus Euro 2016 and two Nations League titles.
- His final match was the 1-0 Nations League win over Wales on 24 September; his exit followed a fallout with coach Jorge Jesus and a 30-day suspension.
- The Portuguese Football Federation has promised a tribute to its "eternal captain" and will announce the November squad on Friday.
- Ronaldo continues at club level with Al Nassr, chasing his 1,000th career goal from 985.
Ronaldo's retirement closes the longest international career of the modern game. Portugal must now find a new captain, a new goalscorer and a new identity — while the player who defined the team for 23 years turns his attention to the final months of his club career and the pursuit of 1,000 goals. The federation's tribute, and Friday's squad announcement, are the next moments to watch.
