Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced his retirement from international football, drawing the curtain on a legendary 23-year career with the national team.
The 41-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner confirmed his decision in an emotional video message shared across his social media platforms.
Portugal estará sempre em mim https://t.co/dnFj51rxmh
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) November 5, 2026
Ronaldo stated that he will officially “hand back the number 7 shirt” following the upcoming November international break. Expressing his gratitude to the fans, he remarked, “To the Portuguese, the time has come to hang up the number 7 of our national team. I never felt it was exclusively mine, but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it.”
The veteran forward leaves behind an unmatched international legacy. As men’s international football’s all-time top goalscorer and most-capped player, Ronaldo netted 146 goals in 234 appearances for Seleção das Quinas.
He captained Portugal to their historic Euro 2016 triumph alongside two UEFA Nations League titles, cementing his status as the cornerstone of Portuguese football’s most successful era.
The announcement comes shortly after a fallout with national head coach Jorge Jesus, which saw Ronaldo accept a 30-day suspension after leaving the team camp. However, the legendary forward leaves with his head held high, closing a monumental chapter in world football.
