Cristiano Ronaldo ends 23-year Portugal career after latest dispute

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, ending a 23-year Portugal career in which he set world records for both appearances and goals.

The Portugal captain, who made the announcement on Thursday, leaves the national team having won 234 caps and scored 146 goals.

His decision follows a dispute with Portugal manager Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo left the national team camp without permission at the end of September after accusing the coach of going back on agreements over his involvement in matches.

Ronaldo later apologised for leaving and said he remained available for selection. However, the Portuguese Football Federation subsequently suspended him for 30 days and fined him 255 euros.

His retirement follows a familiar pattern of high-profile players stepping away from international football after disputes with coaches or national federations. Some decisions have been permanent, while others have been reversed after circumstances changed.

Andre Onana

Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana announced his international retirement in December 2022 after a disagreement with manager Rigobert Song during the World Cup in Qatar.

Song said Onana had asked not to play in Cameroon’s match against Serbia. The goalkeeper was then removed from the squad and left Qatar without playing in another match at the tournament.

Onana ended his Cameroon career after the incident but returned to the national team in August 2023.

Mesut Ozil

Mesut Ozil retired from Germany duty in July 2018, shortly after the team were eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup in Russia.

He had faced widespread criticism after being photographed with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan before the tournament. The controversy intensified following Germany’s early exit.

In his retirement statement, Ozil accused the German Football Association, officials and supporters of racism and of failing to respect his Turkish heritage. He said he had been treated differently because of his background.

Ozil won 92 international caps and scored 23 goals, and was a key member of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning side.

David Trezeguet

David Trezeguet ended his France career in July 2008 after Raymond Domenech was retained as manager.

The striker had been left out of France’s squad for Euro 2008, a decision he described as unacceptable and impossible to justify. When Domenech remained in charge after France’s group-stage elimination, Trezeguet said the coach’s continued employment was the direct reason for his retirement.

Trezeguet made 71 appearances for France, scoring 34 goals. He was part of the 1998 World Cup-winning team and scored the winning goal in the Euro 2000 final against Italy.

Hakim Ziyech and Robert Lewandowski

Hakim Ziyech announced a temporary retirement from Morocco duty in February 2022 after a dispute with then-manager Vahid Halilhodzic, who accused him of indiscipline and pretending to be injured. Ziyech rejected the claims and was subsequently omitted from the squad.

After the Moroccan federation parted company with Halilhodzic in August 2022, Ziyech returned under Walid Regragui and helped Morocco reach the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar.

In June 2025, Poland captain Robert Lewandowski said he would not play while Michal Probierz remained manager, after Probierz removed him as captain and handed the armband to Piotr Zielinski. Lewandowski said he had lost trust in the coach and his treatment of him.

Probierz resigned on 12 June 2025, ending the dispute and allowing the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich forward to return to Poland duty.