Ronaldo retires from international football after record Portugal career

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 41, ending a 23-year Portugal career in which he won 234 caps and scored a world-record 146 goals.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner confirmed the decision on Thursday in a video posted to his Instagram account, saying he had played his final match for his country.

“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo said, as footage from his career was shown.

“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.

“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.

“A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end.”

Ronaldo’s announcement follows a disagreement with Portugal manager Jorge Jesus last month. The forward refused to play in a Nations League match, immediately left the team camp and was given a 30-day suspension.

He later apologised, leading to speculation that he would return to the national team. Instead, he has now brought his international career to a close.

The Portuguese Football Federation said it would arrange a “fitting tribute” to mark Ronaldo’s “immense career”.

Ronaldo will continue playing for his Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, with his contract running until June 2027.

His greatest achievement with Portugal came at Euro 2016 in France, when he helped the team win the European Championship. Ronaldo was forced off injured during the final.

“I won Euro 2016 and, for me, that’s just as important as the World Cup. It will stay with me forever,” he said.

At this year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Ronaldo scored three goals, but Portugal were eliminated in the last 16 by eventual winners Spain.

One of the most memorable moments of his international career came at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. During Portugal’s quarter-final against England, television cameras showed the 21-year-old appearing to wink towards his bench after seeming to urge the referee to send off his then Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney.

Rooney was dismissed, while Ronaldo scored the decisive penalty in the shootout as Portugal reached the semi-finals. They were beaten there by Zinedine Zidane’s France.

Ronaldo’s retirement from international football comes after that of his long-term rival Lionel Messi, who played his final match for Argentina last month.