Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football after glittering Portugal career that spanned 23 years

Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football.

The 41-year-old Portugal legend has brought an end to his glittering 23-year career for his country after a record-breaking 146 goals in 234 caps .

Ronaldo took to social media to confirm the decision on Thursday morning, with the caption “Portugal will always be in me.”

You can read the statement in full at the bottom of this article.

He won Euro 2016 with his country, as well as two Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. Portugal exited the most recent World Cup in the round of 16, beaten by eventual champions Spain.

Having made his international debut in 2003, Ronaldo played in 12 major tournaments: six World Cups and six European Championships.

The Al Nassr forward said after the tournament would be his last, later adding he would not make any rash decisions.

However, his retirement comes after a fall-out with head coach Jorge Jesus in the previous international break.

He said: “Today I finish my walk on the pitch with the national team. I leave with my head held high, with pride in the path I took, and with the awareness that I gave everything I had for Portugal.

“The goals pass, the cups are in museums, the records end up being beaten. But there is something that time can never erase, the place we occupy in people’s hearts.

“I spent my life working to be the best player in the world. Today I realise that the greatest victory was to have deserved to represent the best country in the world.”

Ronaldo thanked his team-mates, coaches, family and supporters around the world, adding: “Thank you for these 23 years. Thank you for having believed in me. Portugal will always be in me. Forever.”

Ronaldo publicly admitted in the last international break that he considered ending his Portugal career following the World Cup.

A statement on Instagram revealed that Ronaldo had written his retirement statement only to be talked out of it by the president of the Portuguese Football Federation Pedro Proenca on the plane back from North America.

Portuguese federation: Ronaldo symbol of our spirit

The Portuguesa Football Federation posted a tribute to their now-former captain, crediting his extraordinary career and dedcation to his country.

They added that a fitting tribute will be paid to Ronaldo in the future, with his final game for Portugal proving to be a 1-0 win against Wales.

A statement read: “It is with a feeling of profound gratitude and immense admiration that the Portuguese Football Federation publicly praises and thanks Cristiano Ronaldo for his absolutely extraordinary career serving our country.

“More than just an outstanding athlete, our captain was an inspiring leader, an example of dedication, and the ultimate symbol of the spirit of our national team.

“Throughout a legendary international career, marked by 234 caps and 146 goals scored, the captain carried the country on his shoulders, broke records, and led the team to moments that will forever be etched in the history of national football.

“Every drop of sweat, every decisive goal, and every captain’s armband worn with pride on the field reflected his unconditional love for our jersey.

“Thank you for everything, CAPTAIN! This will always be your home! Let’s go for goal 1,000!”

How ‘fallout’ with Jesus unfolded

Jesus took over from Roberto Martinez after the World Cup. His first games were Nations League fixtures in the September-October international break. His started Ronaldo in the first – a 1-0 win against Wales.

However, the then-Portugal captain was benched during a 2-1 win against Norway and did not come on.

Ronaldo left the national team camp on the eve of facing Denmark on October 1, sparking rumours that he was about to announce his international retirement.

Jesus denied there was a rift between the two despite reports – but a statement posted by Ronaldo on Instagram said the new manager had ‘broken his promises’.

Ronaldo claimed that Jesus told him he would play 30 minutes against Norway on the day of the game only to go back on his word.

“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from half-time onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said. “The coach had broken his word to me.”

Ronaldo and Jesus, who used to work together at Al Nassr, subsequently held a meeting after the Norway game, which was also attended by the sporting director of the Saudi Pro League club, Simao Coutinho.

According to Ronaldo’s statement, Jesus agreed to clarify the situation and say that his captain never demanded minutes and that it was a mistake to let him warm up without bringing him on.

Ronaldo says an eight-point document was drawn up to summarise what had been discussed in a subsequent meeting between Jesus, Al Nassr sporting director Coutinho and Tiago Craveiro, the player’s strategic adviser.

However, Ronaldo felt the Portugal head coach’s subsequent press conference bore no reflection to the conversation they had shared, which he claims ended in Jesus asking him for a hug.

He added: “It was the second time he had broken his word to me. I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”

Jesus denied that any such agreement had been made with the player in a later press conference.

Despite this, Ronaldo admitted he never should have left the Portugal camp “despite the absolute breach of trust” from Jesus.

Ronaldo apologised to his team-mates and the Portuguese people over his departure from the squad and said he will accept whatever punishment is handed down to him by the Portuguese Football Federation.

That turned out to be a 30-day ban and a £215 fine.

Ronaldo’s retirement statement in full

“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt to the 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 over the world.

“Today, the time has come to carry it into 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.

“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 ninety 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 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 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.

“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. 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.

“Because being Portuguese is also about this. We suffer together, we rise together. We believe again.

“Portugal will always need young people who dare to dream. Players who never give up. New generations to believe it is possible to go where no one has ever gone before. Because a country that keeps creating new heroes is a country that never stops believing in itself.

“To my teammates, I want to say something special. Thank you for every run, for every embrace, for every argument. For every silence before stepping onto the pitch. For every victory we celebrated together. For every defeat that made us stronger. I had the privilege of being your captain, but no captain walks alone. And you will always be a part of my story.

“To all the coaches, directors, doctors, physiotherapists, kit managers, staff members, and so many others who worked alongside me throughout these years, thank you. Many of you never appeared in the photographs. But without you, none of those photographs would have been possible.

“To my family. Thank you for sharing this dream with me. Thank you for understanding the absences, the sacrifices and the moments when the national team had to take up space in my life that also belonged to you. If I came this far, it was because we always walked hand in hand.

“And to the people of Portugal. To every Portuguese person around the world, wherever you are in the world, there is one last thing I want to tell you. There is an image I will carry with me forever. The moment our national anthem begins. I look around. I see my teammates. I see the stands. I see the children, the mothers, the fathers and the grandparents. I see Portuguese people who have travelled so far just to be there. And for a few minutes, all our differences disappear. There are no clubs, there are no colours, there are no classes, there are no professions, there are no opinions. There is only one passion: Portugal.

“That is the feeling I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Today, my journey on the pitch with the national team comes to an end. I leave with my head held high, proud of the path I have taken and knowing that I gave everything I had for Portugal. But, I will never stop being one of you. I will keep suffering, cheering and celebrating every Portuguese victory with a siuuuuu!

“I spent my life working to become the best player in the world. Today, I realise my greatest victory was earning the honour of representing the best country in the world. Thank you for these 23 years. Thank you for believing in me. 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 7 shirt shall remain. The pride of having worn it will be mine forever. Portugal will always be a part of me. Farewell, until we meet again.”

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