Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced his retirement from international football, drawing the curtain on a legendary 23-year career with the Selecao das Quinas.
The 41-year-old forward confirmed in a social media address on Thursday that he will step down and “hand back the number 7 shirt” following Portugal’s upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures in November. Portugal is scheduled to face Denmark on Nov. 14 before traveling to play Wales three days later.
“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo said in an emotional video posted to his Instagram account. “I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it, and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world.”
He added: “It was not an easy decision… 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.”
A Record-Breaking Legacy
Ronaldo steps away from the international stage holding the all-time men’s records for both appearances and goals, closing his international account with 234 caps and 146 goals for his country.
| Metric | Record |
| International Caps | 234 (All-Time Record) |
| International Goals | 146 (All-Time Record) |
| Major Trophies | UEFA Euro 2016, UEFA Nations League (2019, 2025) |
| World Cup Milestone | First male player to score in 6 World Cup tournaments |
Ronaldo debuted for Portugal in August 2003 as an 18-year-old. Over two decades, he captained his nation to its first-ever major trophy at UEFA Euro 2016 in France, followed by UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. Earlier in 2026, he became the first male player to score across six different FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Watch full speech here:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DfWzUuNAeGd/?exln=MTZ4c29qdTZneWZqMw==
The announcement follows weeks of speculation surrounding Ronaldo’s international future. A public rift developed last month when he reportedly fell out with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus after being left out of the starting lineup during a Nations League match, briefly leading the forward to leave the team camp.
Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença held discussions with Ronaldo to manage the transition before Thursday’s formal announcement.
While Ronaldo’s international career is drawing to a close, his club career continues uninterrupted. The veteran striker remains active in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr, where he recently tallied a hat-trick against Al-Kholood to push his career goal total to 985.
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