Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday that he will retire from the Portugal national team, a Ronaldo Portugal retirement that closes one of the most decorated international careers in the sport. The 41-year-old confirmed the decision in a social media post and said he would "hand back the number 7 shirt" after the November international break.
The announcement ends a 23-year international career. Ronaldo thanked his family, the Portuguese people, and the teammates, coaches and staff he worked with across that period.
Ronaldo Portugal retirement: the record haul
Ronaldo leaves with 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal, holding the all-time records for both international appearances and international goals. Those two marks are the clearest measure of how long he remained a fixture of the national side.
He captained Portugal to their first major trophy at Euro 2016 and helped them win the 2019 and 2025 Nations Leagues. The 2025 title was the most recent of those successes, and it came in the same year he turns 41.
What Ronaldo said
Ronaldo framed the decision as an emotional one rather than a purely rational calculation. "It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not made only with the head. They are also made with the heart," he said.
He then addressed supporters directly. "If I ever made you happy, if one of my goals ever made you hug someone, forget a worry or feel proud of our country, then it was all worth it," he said. He captioned the announcement video with the line: "Portugal will always be a part of me."
Context around the timing
Analysis: The announcement itself does not explain why Ronaldo chose this moment. Separate related coverage reported that the decision followed a falling out with head coach Jorge Jesus during the last international break, a claim the retirement post does not address.
The November international break is the window in which he intends to hand back the number 7 shirt. Related coverage lists Wales against Portugal in Cardiff on November 17 among the fixtures scheduled in that period.
What to watch
Portugal must now plan for a squad without the forward who has anchored their attack for more than two decades, and the number 7 shirt will pass to another player after the November window. How quickly the side reshapes around that absence is the immediate question.
The original report was published by gmanetwork.com.
