Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football

Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football.

Ronaldo, 41, calls time on his career with Portugal after a legendary 23-year stint, scoring 146 goals in 234 games to become international football’s all-time top scorer.

He captained his nation to their first ever major title at Euro 2016, while also lifting two Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.

“The day has come back for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” he said in an announcement on social video. “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. When I look back at everything with the national team, I don’t just see the matches, goals, records or trophies.

“I see people. I see the Portuguese people living abroad who, for 90 minutes, felt a little closer to home. I see millions of Portuguese people I have never met but who became part of my life. Because at the end of the day, football is so much bigger than a game. Football is about people.”

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s retirement follows his controversial decision to quit the Portugal camp during the international break last month, where he accused new manager Jorge Jesus of twice breaking his word after remaining an unused substitute against Norway.

The Portuguese FA has handed Ronaldo a 30-day suspension – which would be served before the November international break – as well as imposing a €255 (£214.88) fine, with Jesus having not closed the door on bringing the country’s captain back into the fold.

However, Ronaldo has now taken the decision to permanently step away from Portugal duty, a month after storied rival Lionel Messi played his last game for Argentina.

Ronaldo made his Portugal debut in August 2003 when he came on as a half-time substitute for fellow legend Rui Costa in a 1-0 friendly win over Kazakhstan, eight days after completing his move from Sporting CP to Manchester United.

He scored his first goal at Euro 2004, bagging in a 2-1 group-stage loss to Greece, who Portugal would eventually lose to again in the final. He was named in the team of the tournament at 19.

Ronaldo went on to appear at a joint-most six World Cup finals and an outright-most six European Championships, with his crowning glory coming in France in 2016.

Ronaldo’s best World Cup finish saw Portugal beaten in the semi-finals by France in 2006, with Zinedine Zidane’s penalty proving the difference in a 1-0 win.

His final attempt to claim a World Cup winners’ medal ended in failure this year when Portugal were knocked out by eventual champions Spain in the last-16.

He remains 15 strikes short of 1,000-goal target before he retires from football for good, with his only scoring avenue coming in Saudi Arabia with current club Al-Nassr.