Portuguese football superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, has announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious 23-year career with Portugal’s national team.
The 41-year-old forward made the announcement on Thursday through a social media message, declaring that the time had come to hand over the responsibility to the next generation of Portuguese footballers.
“Today, the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision,” Ronaldo said in the announcement.
According to reports, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will formally hand back Portugal’s iconic number seven shirt after the November international break, marking the end of an era for the European nation.
Ronaldo bows out as the most-capped player and highest goalscorer in the history of men’s international football, having recorded 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal. His international career began in 2003, when he made his senior debut as a young forward, before developing into one of the most influential figures in the history of the game.
His remarkable journey with Portugal included leading the country to its maiden European Championship title at Euro 2016 and helping secure the UEFA Nations League crown in 2019. He also represented Portugal at multiple World Cups and European Championships, becoming the face of the national team for more than two decades.
The announcement comes after months of uncertainty surrounding his international future. Ronaldo had previously considered retiring following Portugal’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup but was persuaded to continue. He also recently faced controversy following his departure from the national team camp amid a disagreement involving head coach Jorge Jesus. At the time, however, he insisted that he remained available for national duty.
His retirement represents a significant turning point for Portuguese football, with the national team now set to move into a new era without the captain whose goals, leadership and longevity helped define its modern history.
Although his international chapter has come to an end, Ronaldo’s club career continues with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
For Portugal, the challenge will now be finding a new leader capable of filling the enormous space left by a player whose name has become synonymous with the country’s footballing identity.