Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to his remarkable 23-year career with the Portugal national team.
The 41-year-old forward made the announcement in an emotional message shared on his Instagram account on Thursday, saying he was ready to hand over Portugal’s iconic number seven shirt after a career he described as life-changing.
In his message, Ronaldo wrote:
“The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team.
“I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege 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.”
Ronaldo, who made his international debut in August 2003, reflected on his journey with Portugal, highlighting the people and experiences that shaped his career.
He added:
“A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end. When I look back at everything with the national team, I don’t just see the matches, goals, records or trophies.
“I see people. I see the 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,” he added.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also spoke about his determination to give his best whenever he represented his country, despite the disappointments and challenges he encountered.
“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,” he said.
Acknowledging the difficult moments of his international career, Ronaldo admitted that there were occasions when he could not deliver the results Portuguese supporters hoped for.
“I made mistakes. I suffered. There were also moments when 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,” he said.
Ronaldo leaves the national team as the highest-scoring player in men's international football, with 146 goals in 234 appearances, according to UEFA figures updated in October 2026.
He also holds the record for the most international appearances by a male footballer, having surpassed Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa.
In 2026, Ronaldo became the first player to score at six different FIFA World Cup tournaments.
His international journey began on August 20, 2003, when he featured against Kazakhstan. He subsequently represented Portugal at the 2004 European Championship, where the team finished as runners-up after losing the final to Greece.
Ronaldo later captained Portugal to their first major international trophy at Euro 2016, although he was forced off with an injury during the final against France.
Portugal went on to win the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019 and secured the trophy for a second time in 2025.
Beyond his achievements with the national team, Ronaldo has enjoyed an illustrious club career, winning five Ballon d’Or awards and five UEFA Champions League titles.
He represented several top European clubs, including Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, winning domestic league titles in England, Spain and Italy.
During his nine-year spell at Real Madrid, he also became the Spanish club's all-time leading goalscorer.
His retirement announcement comes less than three months after long-time rival Lionel Messi reportedly parted ways with Argentina's national team, popularly known as La Albiceleste.