Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a 23-year career with the national team.
The 41-year-old forward, who holds the world records for most international goals and appearances, scored 146 goals in 234 matches for Portugal since making his debut in 2003.
Ronaldo announced his decision in a video posted on his Instagram account, saying it was time to hand over the iconic number seven shirt to the next generation.
“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,” he said.
He described representing Portugal as a privilege and responsibility, adding that his journey with the national team had changed his life forever.
“A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end,” he said.
Ronaldo’s retirement comes after a successful international career during which he represented Portugal at six European Championships and six World Cups.
He helped Portugal win the 2016 European Championship, having previously finished as a runner-up in 2004. He also won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
However, Portugal failed to progress beyond the semi-final stage of the FIFA World Cup during his international career.
His announcement follows recent tensions with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus after he was left on the bench during a competitive match against Norway.
Ronaldo was reportedly unhappy after being asked to warm up but not introduced into the game, marking the first time since 2008 that he had been an unused substitute in a competitive match for Portugal.
The disagreement escalated when Jesus indicated that Ronaldo would not start the subsequent Nations League fixture against Denmark.
The forward subsequently left the national team camp and was fined and suspended for 30 days by the Portuguese Football Federation.
Although Jesus maintained that the door remained open for Ronaldo’s return, the veteran forward did not mention the disagreement in his retirement announcement.
Instead, he reflected on the highs and lows of his international career, acknowledging that he had made mistakes and experienced difficult moments.
“There were perfect afternoons and nights. There were victories I will never forget. There were defeats that still hurt to remember. I made mistakes; I suffered,” he said.
He added that, despite the disappointments, he had never stopped feeling proud of representing his country.
The Portuguese Football Federation said it would organise a fitting tribute to celebrate Ronaldo’s contribution to the national team.
In a statement, the federation expressed its desire to actively participate in arrangements that would allow supporters and the country to celebrate the footballer’s remarkable career.
Ronaldo’s retirement also comes shortly after his long-time rival, Argentina captain Lionel Messi, retired from international football following an emotional farewell in Buenos Aires.
