Ronaldo Retires From International Football After 23 Years With Portugal

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to his 23-year career with the national team.

The 41-year-old made the announcement in a video shared on his social media platforms on Thursday.

Ronaldo said he had decided to hand over Portugal’s iconic number seven shirt after the November international break.

“The day has come for me to hand back my country’s number seven shirt,” he said.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also admitted that the decision was difficult, noting that some choices were not made with the mind alone.

Ronaldo’s retirement comes amid reports of a disagreement with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus during the last international break.

The Al-Nassr forward reportedly left the national team camp after he was left on the bench during a UEFA Nations League match.

Ronaldo ends his international career as Portugal’s most-capped player, with 234 appearances, and the country’s leading scorer, with 146 goals.

He made his debut for Portugal in 2003 and captained the team to victory at the 2016 European Championship and the 2019 and 2025 UEFA Nations League tournaments.