Another sporting legend has said goodbye to international sport. Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from Portugal after a 23 year career, bringing an end to an era for football fans around the world.
The 41 year old Cristiano Ronaldo shared an emotional clip on social media to confirm his decision.
Ronaldo finishes his international career with 234 appearances and 146 goals, making him the most capped player and highest goalscorer in men’s international football.
Ronaldo made his international debut against Kazakhstan on August 20, 2003. He went on to represent Portugal at six World Cups and six European Championships.
His biggest achievement with Portugal came at Euro 2016, when he captained the team to its first European Championship title. He also led the country to Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
Ronaldo finishes with 146 international goals, ahead of Lionel Messi’s 126 for Argentina. He also holds the record for the most appearances in men’s international football.
In his farewell message, Ronaldo thanked the Portuguese supporters, his family, teammates and coaches. He also spoke about the difficult moments and achievements during his time with the national team, saying that he had given everything for his country.
Ronaldo’s final months with Portugal also involved a disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus. The issue came into focus during Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League win over Norway on October 4, when Ronaldo remained on the bench for the entire match.
Ronaldo later claimed that he had been told he would get around 30 minutes on the ground. He warmed up during the match but was never brought on.
The disagreement continued over how his absence was explained. Ronaldo felt that the coach had not kept his word, while Jesus maintained that selecting the team was his responsibility.
Ronaldo subsequently left Portugal’s training camp before the match against Denmark. He later apologised to his teammates and supporters, admitting that leaving the camp was a mistake.
The Portuguese Football Federation imposed a 30 day suspension. Ronaldo has not said that this disagreement was the reason behind his retirement.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo Retire From Football Completely? No. Ronaldo’s announcement concerns only his international career with Portugal. He is expected to continue playing for Al-Nassr.
His final international tournament was the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Portugal were knocked out by Spain in the round of 16.
For Portugal, the next chapter will begin without the player who has represented the country for more than two decades. For football fans, it is another reminder that even the biggest names eventually leave the international stage.
