Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From International Football After Record 234 Caps and 146 Goals

Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Portugal in 2018 — Image via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing down the curtain on a record-breaking 23-year career with Portugal.

The 41-year-old broke the news on Thursday in a video posted on social media, in which he read a letter to his supporters. "The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team," he said, according to CNN.

A career of records

• Ronaldo played a record 234 times for Portugal, scoring a record 146 international goals. No man has scored more goals or made more appearances for his country.
• He made his Portugal debut aged 18 in August 2003 and played in a record six World Cups and six European Championships.
• He became the first player to score at six different World Cups and scored for Portugal in 23 consecutive calendar years, from 2004 to 2026.
• He also holds the record for the most international victories, with 141 wins in a Portugal shirt.

Trophies and triumphs

The highlight of Ronaldo's international career came in 2016, when he captained Portugal to victory at the European Championship — the country's first major international trophy. He also helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and again in 2025.

Portugal exited the most recent World Cup in the round of 16, beaten by eventual champions Spain, according to Sky Sports.

An acrimonious ending

Ronaldo's farewell comes after a fall-out with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus during the previous international break. He was suspended for 30 days and fined €255 by the Portuguese Football Federation after walking out of the national team camp, according to The Times. His final appearance for Portugal came on September 24, in a 1–0 home win over Wales in the Nations League.

Portugal's coach said the decision to retire was Ronaldo's own, and the Portuguese Football Federation said it "refuses to let this farewell take place without due tribute", as it prepares a send-off for its greatest ever player.

Club career continues

Ronaldo is not retiring from football altogether. He will continue playing club football for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, where he is closing in on 1,000 career goals — he currently stands on 985.

His international retirement closes one of the greatest careers in football history — another record-breaking sporting story, following Kimi Antonelli becoming the youngest Formula 1 world champion at 20 earlier this week.