Ronaldo Hangs Up Portugal Jersey After 23 Years

Cristiano Ronaldo retired from the Portugal national team on Thursday, ending a 23-year international career. The 41-year-old forward announced the news in a video posted to social media, marking the conclusion of a run that included six World Cup appearances and a European championship title.

Ronaldo holds the men's all-time record for international goals. He scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal. His final match for the country was a 1-0 win over Wales in the Nations League on September 24. That game came after a falling out with head coach Jorge Jesus, who benched Ronaldo for the next fixture and said he did not plan to start him in the one after that.

The dispute led Ronaldo to leave the team's training camp. Jesus later stated that the door remained open for Ronaldo's return. In his farewell message, Ronaldo said the decision was difficult because it was made with both mind and heart. He described the journey as one that began in August 2003 and changed his life.

"To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team," Ronaldo said. "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."

The Portuguese soccer federation issued a statement thanking Ronaldo for raising the country's profile. The group called him the greatest player of all time and said he inspired generations of young athletes. The federation plans to hold a tribute event where fans can celebrate his service to the nation.

Ronaldo will continue playing at the club level. He is expected to finish his club career at the end of the current season. He currently has 985 career goals and is chasing his 1,000th. He is also among the wealthiest athletes, a milestone first reported by Bloomberg in October 2025 for a player in his sport.