Cristiano Ronaldo to retire from international football after 23-year Portugal career

Cristiano Ronaldo will end his Portugal career after the November international break, bringing down the curtain on a 23-year spell with the national team.

The 41-year-old forward announced his decision on Thursday, confirming he would give up the famous number seven shirt he has worn throughout his international career.

“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo said in a video message posted on Instagram.

“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.”

Ronaldo said reaching the decision had been difficult, but felt the time was right for the next generation to take responsibility for Portugal.

“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.

A record-breaking international career

Ronaldo made his Portugal debut in August 2003 and went on to win 234 caps and score 146 goals.

Those figures make him the leading goalscorer and most-capped player in men’s international football.

His defining success with Portugal came in 2016, when he captained the team to their first European Championship title. He also helped the country win the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.

“Today I finish my walk on the pitch with the national team. I leave with my head held high, with pride in the path I took, and with the awareness that I gave everything I had for Portugal,” Ronaldo added.

“The goals pass, the cups are in museums, the records end up being beaten. But there is something that time can never erase, the place we occupy in people’s hearts.”

Ronaldo concluded his message by thanking Portugal’s supporters for their faith in him.

“Portugal will always be in me. Forever.”