Cristiano Ronaldo confirms retirement from international football with Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo has officially stepped down from international football, drawing a close to a record-breaking 23-year career representing Portugal.

The 41-year-old attacker announced his departure in a social media video, stating that the moment had arrived to relinquish the squad's famous number seven jersey. Ronaldo expressed that reaching the choice had been challenging, reflecting on an international journey that began in August 2003 and profoundly transformed his life.

Throughout his international tenure, Ronaldo set global records by accumulating 234 caps and scoring 146 goals for his country. He served as the team's captain starting in 2008 and led Portugal to significant silverware, securing the European Championship crown in 2016 alongside Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. He also competed in six European Championships and six World Cups, reaching the final of Euro 2004 as an 18-year-old.

The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed plans to arrange an official tribute to honour the forward's contributions, expressing its intent to celebrate his career and give supporters an opportunity to applaud his achievements. The national team is set to confirm its upcoming Nations League roster ahead of matches with Denmark and Wales.

The announcement follows recent friction within the national camp under manager Jorge Jesus. In September, Ronaldo departed the team base after learning he would not be in the starting lineup for a clash against Denmark. That incident resulted in a 30-day suspension and a £215 fine from the federation. Tensions had previously escalated during a fixture against Norway, where Ronaldo was left as an unused substitute after warming up, marking the first time in competitive international action since 2008 that he remained on the bench throughout.

Although he had strongly disputed the manager's handling of the situation at the time, Ronaldo made no direct mention of the dispute in his departure announcement. Instead, he reflected broadly on his career highs and lows, conceding that he had experienced setbacks and made errors along the way, while emphasizing his enduring pride in representing his nation.

His departure from the international stage comes shortly after long-time competitor Lionel Messi concluded his own international career for Argentina in front of fans in Buenos Aires last month.