Cristiano Ronaldo is done with the Portugal national team. The all-time leading men’s international goal scorer announced his retirement from international football on Thursday after 23 years representing Portugal, following a fallout with coach Jorge Jesus.
The 41-year-old, who has 146 goals in 234 games for Portugal, both records, shared the news in a lengthy video on Instagram. “The day has come to hand back the number seven shirt,” he said, adding that he never felt it was exclusively his. “It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not made solely with the head; they are also made with the heart.”
A Messy Exit
The announcement came one day before Jesus was due to name Portugal’s squad for Nations League games against Denmark and Wales. It also followed a 30-day suspension handed down by the Portuguese football federation, which punished Ronaldo for walking out on the national team in the previous international window.
He took that action after a fallout with Jesus, his former Al Nassr coach, over playing time. Ronaldo played his last game for Portugal on September 24, a 1-0 win over Wales. He was then an unused substitute for the first time in 18 years in a 2-1 win at Norway on October 4. Ronaldo apologized to his teammates and said he wanted to keep playing for the national team, but he did not apologize to Jesus, whom he accused of breaking promises.
Jesus said he asked Ronaldo to stay but now accepts the decision. “He will always be a point of reference for our national team,” the coach told Channel 11.
A Career Unlike Any Other
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner captained Portugal to Euro 2016 glory and to the inaugural UEFA Nations League title three years later, and again in 2025. He became the only player to score in six different World Cups this summer, though Portugal exited in the round of 16 and the title remained missing from his résumé.
His records pile up. He scored the most goals in World Cup qualifying (41), and has the most matches (30) and goals (14) in European championships. He is also the only player to score in five different Euros.
In his farewell message, Ronaldo focused on people rather than numbers. “Goals come and go, trophies end up in museums, and records are eventually broken,” he said. “But there is one thing that time can never erase: the place we hold in people’s hearts.”
What Comes Next
Ronaldo will continue at club level and is expected to finish his career at the end of this season with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. He is in pursuit of his 1,000th career goal and sits on 985.
The Portuguese federation thanked him in a statement, saying it intends to organize a fitting tribute at a later date and calling him, for many, “the greatest player of all time.” Manchester United, Sporting CP, and Juventus were among the former clubs to pay tribute.
He retires less than a month after longtime rival Lionel Messi played his last game for Argentina.
