PORTUGAL — Cristiano Ronaldo announced Thursday that he will retire from international football after November’s international break, bringing a 23-year Portugal career toward its conclusion with men’s world records for appearances and goals.
The Ronaldo retirement announcement concerns his national team career. The 41-year-old forward will continue playing club football for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.
Ronaldo has made 234 senior appearances and scored 146 goals for Portugal. He captained the country to its first major men’s trophy at Euro 2016 and helped secure Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
In a video announcing his decision, Ronaldo described representing Portugal as a privilege and responsibility and said the time had come to pass the national team shirt to the next generation.
“It was not an easy decision,” he said.
FIFA confirmed the announcement, recognizing a national team career that began in August 2003 and stretched across six World Cups.
November fixtures frame Ronaldo retirement
Portugal’s remaining Nations League group fixtures are a home match against Denmark on Nov. 14 and an away meeting with Wales on Nov. 17, according to UEFA’s published schedule.
The Denmark match is scheduled for the Estádio Municipal de Braga. The Wales fixture concludes Portugal’s November program and its league-phase schedule.
Both matches fall before Ronaldo’s announced departure takes effect. His selection and participation, however, remain separate from the retirement announcement.
His 234 appearances and 146 goals are therefore his totals at the time of the announcement, rather than necessarily his final career figures.
The Portuguese Football Federation responded by thanking Ronaldo for his contribution and expressing its intention to organize a tribute involving supporters.
In a statement reproduced by Portuguese broadcaster Sport TV, the federation praised his leadership, dedication and influence on generations of players. It said it wanted supporters and the country to have an opportunity to celebrate his career.
From teenage debut to three international titles
Ronaldo’s senior international career began against Kazakhstan in August 2003, when he entered as a second-half substitute for Luís Figo.
Within a year, he was part of the Portugal team that reached the Euro 2004 final on home soil before losing to Greece. His career subsequently spanned six European Championship tournaments and six World Cups.
Portugal’s breakthrough came at Euro 2016, when Ronaldo captained the squad to the country’s first major senior men’s title.
The team added the inaugural Nations League championship in 2019 and won the competition again in 2025, extending its success beyond the European Championship victory.
Ronaldo remained directly involved in that third title at age 40.
In the 2025 Nations League final in Munich, he scored Portugal’s second equalizer against Spain, making it 2-2 after the Portuguese had twice fallen behind. The match remained level through extra time before Portugal won the penalty shootout 5-3.
Goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved Álvaro Morata’s penalty, and Rúben Neves converted the decisive kick. Portugal became the first country to win the Nations League twice.
UEFA recorded Ronaldo as the first player older than 40 to appear and score in a Nations League final.
Records across Europe and the World Cup
Ronaldo’s international records extend beyond his overall appearance and scoring totals.
UEFA lists him as the European Championship’s record scorer with 14 goals and its record appearance-maker with 30 matches at the finals. He appeared at six editions of the tournament, from 2004 through 2024, and scored at five.
His World Cup career spanned six tournaments, beginning in Germany in 2006 and continuing through the 2026 competition in North America, where he became the first player to score at six men’s World Cups.
FIFA records that he scored three times at the 2026 tournament, taking his World Cup total to 11 goals.
Portugal’s final tournament with Ronaldo ended in a 1-0 round-of-16 defeat to Spain, which subsequently won the 2026 World Cup. The World Cup remained the major international title missing from his career.
His retirement announcement follows a September disagreement with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus. According to Reuters, Ronaldo left the national team camp without permission, later apologized and received a 30-day federation suspension.
Ronaldo said an agreement with the coach had been broken. Jesus denied making such an agreement and left the door open for the forward’s return.
Portugal’s next scheduled match is against Denmark in Braga on Nov. 14, followed by the visit to Wales three days later. Those fixtures complete the international break after which Ronaldo says his national team career will end.
