Lisbon, November 5: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his intention to retire from international football, bringing an end to a remarkable 23-year career with the national team.
The 41-year-old confirmed his decision through a video message shared on social media on Thursday. He said he would hand back Portugal’s iconic number 7 shirt following the November international break.
Addressing Portuguese supporters, Ronaldo said the shirt had never belonged to him alone and that he had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it for 23 years.
Ronaldo made his international debut against Kazakhstan on August 20, 2003. He went on to represent Portugal in 234 matches, scoring 146 goals. He remains the highest goalscorer and the most-capped player in men's international football.
His first international goal came against Greece during UEFA Euro 2004. Since then, he has established himself as one of the most successful players in Portuguese football history.
Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different editions of the FIFA World Cup—2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. He has scored 11 goals in World Cup tournaments. He also holds the European Championship record with 14 goals across six editions.
One of the defining moments of his international career came in 2016, when he captained Portugal to its first-ever European Championship title. He also played a significant role in Portugal’s UEFA Nations League triumphs in 2019 and 2025.
