Martha Udom
LISBON, PORTUGAL — Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his intention to retire from international football, bringing an end to a record-breaking 23-year career with Portugal.
The 41-year-old made the announcement on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in an emotional video posted on Instagram, in which he addressed the Portuguese people.
“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” he said. “I never felt it belonged to me alone. But for 23 years, I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, of defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all over the world. Today, the time has come to pass it on to the future.”
“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,” Ronaldo added.
Ronaldo made his senior debut for Portugal in August 2003, aged 18. He leaves the national team as the most-capped player and highest goalscorer in men’s international football, with 234 appearances and 146 goals.
He captained Portugal to its first major international trophy at Euro 2016 and helped the team win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo also became the first player to score at six different editions of the tournament.
His most recent appearance for Portugal was on September 24, when the team defeated Wales 1-0 in a UEFA Nations League match.
The announcement follows a reported disagreement between Ronaldo and Portugal coach Jorge Jesus. During the September international break, Ronaldo left the team’s training camp after being left out of the starting line-up against Hungary. He later received a 30-day suspension and a fine from the Portuguese Football Federation.
Ronaldo had earlier accused Jesus of making “broken promises” in a statement released on October 6.
Reacting to the retirement announcement on Thursday, Jesus said the decision belonged to Ronaldo.
“All of this is his decision,” he told Canal 11, the official channel of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). “We had the chance to talk about it before the first squad announcement [in September]. I asked him to stay with me because I needed him by my side. But I have to accept his decision.”
The FPF said it would not allow Ronaldo’s departure to pass without a proper tribute, adding that it intended to organise an occasion to celebrate his contribution to Portuguese football.
The federation also expressed “deep gratitude and immense admiration” for his service to the national team.
Ronaldo’s decision concerns international football only. He will continue playing at club level for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, where he is closing in on 1,000 career goals, having scored 985 so far.
He is expected to bring his club career to an end with Al-Nassr at the conclusion of the current season.
His announcement comes shortly after his long-time rival, Lionel Messi, also brought his international career with Argentina to an end.
“Portugal will always be a part of me,” Ronaldo wrote in the caption accompanying his video.
For Portugal, the end of an era is approaching. For Ronaldo, one final chapter remains: the pursuit of 1,000 career goals.
