Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football after a record-breaking career with Portugal, ending a 23-year association with the national team.
The 41-year-old announced his decision in a lengthy Instagram video on Thursday, telling supporters: “The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team.”
Ronaldo added: “I never thought it belonged to me alone. But for 23 years, I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it.”
He won a record 234 caps for Portugal and scored 146 international goals. His greatest success came in 2016, when he helped the country win the European Championship for the first time, while he also played in Portugal’s Nations League victories in 2019 and 2025.
His relationship with the national team had become increasingly strained in recent years as his performances declined. Despite growing frustration among supporters, Ronaldo continued to start matches for Portugal.
Following this summer’s World Cup in North America, he clashed with new head coach Jorge Jesus and left a national team training camp last month. Ronaldo later apologised, and it appeared he would continue playing internationally.
His retirement comes ahead of Portugal’s next international fixtures, against Denmark and Wales in the Nations League later this month.
Ronaldo said the decision had been made with both emotion and reason. “It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not made only with the head. They are also made with the heart,” he said.
“If I ever made you happy, if one of my goals ever made you hug someone, forget a worry or feel proud of our country, then it was all worth it.”
Ronaldo will continue playing club football for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, where he is closing in on 1,000 career goals and currently has 985.
