Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football.

The 41-year-old made his debut for Portugal in 2003 and has gone on to play 234 times for the national team, scoring 146 goals – both of which are records in the men’s game.

In a video on social media, Ronaldo said: “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team.

“I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the honour and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world.

“Today the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision because some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart.

“A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end.”

Ronaldo’s announcement comes less than a month after he was suspended for 30 days and fined 255 euros (approximately £210) by the Portuguese Football Federation after walking out on the national team.

The veteran forward left the camp shortly before a Nations League game against Denmark following a row with head coach Jorge Jesus.

He did not reference the incident in his farewell video but admitted he had made “mistakes”.

Ronaldo continued: “When I look back at everything I experienced with the national team, I don’t just see matches, goals records or trophies, I see people.

“I see Portuguese people living abroad who, for 90 minutes, felt a little closer to home. I see millions of Portuguese people I have never met but who became part of my life.

“Because, at the end of the day, football is so much bigger than a game. Football is about people.

“Throughout my entire career with the national team, I always pushed myself beyond my limits. I wanted to win. I wanted to be better. I wanted to make history. I always demanded the most of myself. I always wanted more.

“I always believed we could go further. And I gave everything I had for this shirt. There were perfect afternoons and nights, there were victories I will never forget. There were defeats that still hurt to remember.

“I made mistakes. I suffered. There were also moments where I couldn’t give the Portuguese people what they so desperately wanted. But I never gave up and, above all, I never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal.”

Ronaldo led Portugal to European Championship victory in 2016 as well as winning the Nations League in 2019 and 2025 but World Cup success eluded him.

“Over the years I learned a few very simple things: goals fade, trophies end up in museums, records are eventually broken, but there is something time can never erase, the place we hold in people’s hearts,” continued Ronaldo.

“If I ever made you happy, if one of my goals ever made you embrace someone, forget a worry or feel proud of our country, then it was all worth it.

“Thank you for allowing me to live a dream that began when I was just a little boy in Madeira running after a football.

“The number seven shirt will remain. The pride of having worn it will be mine forever. Portugal will always be a part of me. Farewell, until we meet again.”

Ronaldo played in a record six European Championships and a joint record six World Cups, while he also holds the individual record for the most international victories with 141.

In a statement, the Portuguese Football Federation paid tribute to the country’s “eternal captain” and promised to organise an event in his honour.

“It is with a feeling of deep gratitude and immense admiration that the Portuguese Football Federation publicly praises and thanks Cristiano Ronaldo’s absolutely extraordinary career at the service of our country,” said the statement on fpf.pt.

“Cristiano Ronaldo raised the name of Portugal and inspired generations of young people who dream of following in his footsteps, being for many of us, the best player of all time!

“Therefore, the Portuguese Football Federation refuses to let this goodbye be made without due tribute.

“It is our firm and enormous desire to organise, plan, participate and actively collaborate in what will always be a tribute to the height of Cristiano Ronaldo’s immense career, in which the fans and the country can applaud and celebrate, once again, the player who gave us so much.”

Ronaldo thanked his team-mates, coaches and family in his video, and he was hailed by his former clubs, with Manchester United and Sporting posting tributes.

Portugal and former United team-mate Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, wrote on Instagram: “Thank you for the inspiration. It was a privilege to be able to share great moments in the national team with my childhood idol.”