Ronaldo ends 23-year Portugal career with 146 goals
The 41-year-old forward steps down from national duty after a fall out with coach Jorge Jesus, leaving with the men's all-time international scoring record.
By Gavin Wilson ·
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal before announcing his retirement from international soccer on Thursday. The 41-year-old forward ended a career that spanned six World Cups and included a European championship title. His departure follows a recent dispute with head coach Jorge Jesus that left him off the bench for Portugal's final match of the cycle.
Ronaldo made the announcement in a video message on social media. "To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team," he said. He described the decision as one made with his heart rather than just his mind. He noted that his journey began in August 2003 and changed his life forever. He is expected to continue playing club football for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia until the end of the current season. He is currently 15 goals short of reaching 1,000 career goals.
The split with the national team began after Portugal defeated Wales 1-0 at home on September 24 in the Nations League. That match marked Ronaldo's final appearance for his country. Jesus subsequently benched him for the following game and said he did not plan to start him in the next one. Ronaldo left the team's training camp in response. Jesus later stated that Ronaldo was welcome back and that the choice to return was his to make.
The Portuguese soccer federation released a statement expressing deep gratitude and immense admiration for the player. The organization called Ronaldo the greatest player of all time. It plans to organize a tribute event where fans can celebrate his contributions to the sport. The federation noted that Ronaldo raised Portugal's profile and inspired generations of young athletes.
Ronaldo's tenure transformed Portugal from a team that had never won a major trophy into a regular contender at global events. Before he debuted against Kazakhstan in 2003, Portugal had qualified for the World Cup only three times. Under his influence, the team qualified for every World Cup and every European Championship held during his career. Portugal won its first major title at Euro 2016 and added two Nations League trophies in 2019 and 2025.
He set multiple records during his time with the national team. He became the first man to score in six different World Cups. He holds the record for most goals in European Championship history with 14. He also scored in 23 consecutive calendar years, from 2004 through 2026. His 234 caps remain the most in men's international soccer history. He surpassed the previous national record of nine World Cup goals set by Eusébio in 1966.
Ronaldo closed his video by reflecting on his time representing his country. He said he always pushed himself beyond his limits and wanted to make history. He thanked fans for allowing him to live a dream that started in Madeira. He said the pride of wearing the No. 7 shirt would be his forever.
