Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From International Football After 23 Years With Portugal
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo has called time on his international career, finishing as men's football's most-capped player and record goalscorer with 234 appearances and 146 goals.
Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, closing a 23-year chapter with the national team. The veteran forward confirmed the decision in a video message shared on X, stating that the time had come to return the number 7 shirt of the national side.
Ronaldo made his senior debut for Portugal against Kazakhstan in August 2003 and went on to build one of the most decorated careers in the history of international football. He departs as the most-capped men's player of all time, with 234 appearances, and as the leading goalscorer in men's international football, with 146 goals. He also recorded 45 assists and 10 international hat-tricks.
The high point of his Portugal tenure came in 2016, when he captained the side to their first European Championship title after a final victory over hosts France. He was also part of the squads that lifted the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and again in 2025, leaving international football with three major trophies to his name.
On the individual front, Ronaldo broke the long-standing international goals record of Iran's Ali Daei in 2021 and kept extending his tally over the following years until it reached 146. His goal-scoring consistency across more than two decades made him a central figure in Portugal's modern football era.
The announcement follows recent speculation about his relationship with Portugal manager Jorge Jesus, though reports indicated that tensions between the two had eased before his decision. Ronaldo's retirement marks the end of an era for the national team and shifts attention to how Portugal will rebuild around a new generation of players.
Beyond his international record, Ronaldo built a club career at Manchester United and Real Madrid that established him as one of the most recognised athletes in the world. His international farewell is expected to draw tributes from across the football community in the coming days.
