JUST IN: Ronaldo Announces Emotional Portugal Retirement

The 41-year-old will leave Portugal after the November international fixtures, ending a record-breaking career of 234 appearances and 146 goals

Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, confirming on Thursday, November 5, 2026, that he will end his 23-year career with Portugal after the November international break.

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The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward made the announcement in a social media message, describing the decision as difficult while acknowledging that the time had come to hand responsibility to the next generation of Portuguese players.

“Today, the time has come to pass it on to the future,” Ronaldo said.

“It was not an easy decision.”

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also confirmed that he would hand back Portugal’s iconic number seven shirt after the November fixtures, bringing an end to an international career that has made him one of the most influential figures in the country’s sporting history.

Ronaldo leaves the national team as the most-capped male international footballer in history, with 234 appearances, and the leading goalscorer in men’s international football, having scored 146 times for Portugal.

His goal tally places him ahead of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who has 126 international goals, according to UEFA’s statistics published in October 2026.

Since making his senior debut against Kazakhstan on August 20, 2003, Ronaldo has represented Portugal across six FIFA World Cups and six European Championships, establishing a level of longevity rarely achieved in international football.

His most significant contribution came at Euro 2016, when he captained Portugal to their first major international trophy.

Portugal defeated hosts France 1-0 after extra time in the final, with Éder scoring the decisive goal. Ronaldo was forced off with a knee injury during the first half but remained on the sidelines encouraging his teammates as they secured the historic victory.

He subsequently helped Portugal win the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019 and secure another title in 2025, taking his tally of major international honours with the country to three.

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, Ronaldo made further history by becoming the first male footballer to score at six different editions of the tournament.

He achieved the milestone during Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan on June 23, extending a record that began at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Portugal’s campaign eventually ended with a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the round of 16 on July 6. Ronaldo had earlier confirmed that the tournament would be his final World Cup, although he continued playing for the national team afterwards.

His retirement announcement comes weeks after a public disagreement with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus, which raised questions about his future with the national team.

The dispute followed Portugal’s Nations League fixture against Norway in September, when Ronaldo was an unused substitute. He subsequently left the team’s training camp in Copenhagen after learning that he would not start against Denmark.

In a statement explaining his decision, Ronaldo accused Jesus of breaking an agreement concerning his expected playing time. He also apologised to his teammates and Portuguese supporters for leaving the camp without permission.

The Portuguese Football Federation later imposed a 30-day suspension and a €255 fine over the incident.

The suspension was applied retrospectively, allowing Ronaldo to become eligible again ahead of the November international fixtures.

Despite the disagreement, Ronaldo had remained in contention for a return to the national team.

He was included in Portugal’s preliminary squad for the November Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales, although his retirement announcement means he will now leave international football after the fixtures.

His departure marks a significant transition for Portugal, with younger players expected to assume greater responsibility as the country prepares for future international competitions.

Beyond his goals and appearances, Ronaldo’s legacy includes transforming Portugal’s standing in international football and inspiring generations of players through his consistency, ambition and remarkable longevity.

However, his international retirement does not signal the end of his professional playing career.

Ronaldo remains contracted to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, where he continues to pursue his ambition of reaching 1,000 career goals.

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For Portugal, the departure of its record goalscorer and most-capped player closes an extraordinary chapter, leaving behind records and achievements that will be difficult for future generations to surpass.