Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football ending historic 23-year Portugal career

Sports Correspondent

Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on an extraordinary 23-year career that established him as the most-capped player and leading goalscorer in men’s international football history.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, now 41, announced his decision on Thursday, November 5, in an emotional farewell message shared on his official Instagram account, marking the end of an era for Portuguese football.

Reflecting on his journey with the national team, Ronaldo spoke about the honour of representing his country and the emotional difficulty of relinquishing the iconic number seven jersey.

“The day has come back for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo said in the reported farewell message.

“Today, the time has come to pass it on to the future,” he added.

“It was not an easy decision. Because some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart.”

Ronaldo’s announcement brings to a close a remarkable international journey that began in August 2003, when he made his senior debut for Portugal as an 18-year-old.

Over the following 23 years, he accumulated a reported 234 international appearances and scored 146 goals, establishing world records in both categories in men’s international football.

His greatest achievement with Portugal came in 2016 when he captained the national team to its first major international trophy, defeating hosts France in the UEFA European Championship final.

He subsequently helped Portugal secure UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025, further cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures in the country’s sporting history.

Ronaldo’s decision marks a significant transition for Portuguese football, with the national team preparing for a future without the player who has been its most recognisable figure for more than two decades.

While his international career is coming to an end, the announcement does not mean he is retiring from professional club football.