Ronaldo Retires From International Football After 23 Years
The 41-year-old forward will continue playing club football with Al-Nassr while holding the record for most international goals.
By Elena Greco ·
Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football on November 9, ending a 23-year tenure with the Portugal national team.
The 41-year-old forward will remain active in club football, continuing his tenure with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. He currently has 985 career goals and is pursuing a milestone of 1,000. His international career concludes with 146 goals, a men's all-time record, and 234 appearances for Portugal.
Ronaldo released a video message on social media to announce the decision. He stated that the day had come to return the number 7 shirt to the Portuguese people. He noted that the jersey was not his alone, but something he carried with responsibility for two decades. He described the decision as difficult, noting that it was made with the heart as well as the mind. His international career began in August 2003.
During his time with the national team, Portugal qualified for every World Cup and European Championship. Ronaldo helped lead the country to its first European Championship title in 2016. He also contributed to Portugal's victories in the Nations League in 2019 and 2025. He holds the records for most appearances and goals in European Championship history, with 30 appearances and 14 goals.
The Portuguese football federation responded to the announcement by praising his impact on the country's profile. The federation stated that he inspired generations of young players and that many consider him the greatest player of all time. They announced plans to honor him for his service to the nation.
Ronaldo acknowledged the highs and lows of his international journey. He admitted to making mistakes and suffering defeats that still hurt to remember. He said there were moments when he could not give the Portuguese people what they wanted, but he never stopped feeling proud to represent the country. He concluded by thanking the fans for believing in him and allowing him to live the dream that started in Madeira.
He will continue to play for Al-Nassr, where he aims to reach the 1,000-goal mark. His final international match will not be specified in the initial announcement, but his departure marks the end of a streak where he scored for his country across 23 consecutive years.
