Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced his retirement from international football, ending a 23-year career with the national team. The 41-year-old forward confirmed via social media that he will step away from international duty following Portugal’s upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures in November 2026.
Leaving as the all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player in men’s international football history, Ronaldo steps down with 146 goals across 234 appearances for Seleção das Quinas.
The announcement comes after weeks of internal friction and speculation stemming from the fall international window. During the October UEFA Nations League camp, a dispute arose between Ronaldo and Portugal manager Jorge Jesus when the captain learned he would not start against Denmark.
Ronaldo subsequently walked out of the national team training camp without authorization, resulting in a temporary 30-day suspension by the Portuguese Football Federation.
Despite discussions regarding a potential return, Ronaldo confirmed his decision to hand back the number 7 shirt and conclude his journey with the national team.
Ronaldo’s international path began in August 2003 as an 18-year-old prospect against Kazakhstan. Over two decades, he featured in six UEFA European Championships and six FIFA World Cups, becoming the first male player to score in six different World Cup tournaments after finding the net at the 2026 World Cup in North America. He captained Portugal to their first major international trophy at UEFA Euro 2016 in France, followed by victory in the inaugural 2019 UEFA Nations League.
At the club level, Ronaldo’s resume stands as one of the most decorated in football history, boasting over 980 career goals across spells with Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr.
His honors include 5 UEFA Champions League titles (1 in 2008 with Manchester United, 4 with Real Madrid), 3 Premier League titles, 2 La Liga titles, and 2 Serie A titles.
He is Real Madrid’s all-time record goalscorer with 450 goals in 438 games, the UEFA Champions League all-time leading scorer with 140 goals, and a five-time Ballon d’Or recipient.
