Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to his 23-year career with the national team.
Gatekeepers News reports that the 41-year-old made the announcement in a video shared on social media on Thursday, November 5, saying the time had come to hand over Portugal’s 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,” Ronaldo said.
He added that wearing and defending the shirt for 23 years had been a privilege and responsibility, describing his decision to retire as difficult.
“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,” he said.
Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal in August 2003 and went on to make a record 234 appearances, scoring 146 goals to become the highest-scoring player in men’s international football.
During his illustrious career, he captained Portugal to its first European Championship title at Euro 2016 and helped the country win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
He also featured in six FIFA World Cup tournaments, from Germany 2006 to the 2026 edition, becoming the first male player to score in six different editions of the competition.
Portugal’s campaign at the 2026 World Cup ended in the round of 16 following a 1-0 defeat to eventual champions Spain.
Reflecting on his time with the national team, Ronaldo said his career was defined not only by goals, records and trophies but also by the people who supported him.
He thanked his teammates, coaches, family and Portuguese supporters for their contributions throughout his international journey.
“I spent my life working to become the best player in the world. Today I realise that my greatest victory was having deserved the honour of representing the best country in the world,” he added.
His retirement announcement comes weeks after a disagreement with Portugal’s head coach, Jorge Jesus, over his playing time during the September international break.
Ronaldo had left the national team’s training camp following the disagreement but later apologised to his teammates and the Portuguese public.
The Portuguese Football Federation subsequently imposed a 30-day suspension and a fine on the forward over his departure from the camp.
Reacting to his retirement, the federation expressed gratitude for his contributions, describing him as an inspiring leader and a symbol of the national team’s spirit.
It also pledged to organise a special tribute in recognition of his achievements.
Despite retiring from international football, Ronaldo is expected to continue his club career with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
