Cristiano Ronaldo announces retirement from international football

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from Portugal’s national team, ending an international career that spanned six World Cups and included a European title and the men’s all-time international scoring record, according to reports from BBC Sport and The Star.

Career Milestones and Records

Ronaldo's international career included 234 caps, which is a record for international appearances. He finished his tenure with 146 goals for Portugal. His international success included winning the European Championship in 2016, when Portugal defeated hosts France 1-0 in the final in Paris. During that final, Ronaldo took on an unofficial coaching role after leaving the match midway through the first half due to injury.

In addition to his international records, Ronaldo has achieved several milestones in club football:

• Champions League: He was the first player to win five Champions League trophies. He also became the first player to score 100 Champions League goals, achieving the feat with a hat-trick against Bayern Munich in the 2016-17 quarter-final second leg.
• Goal Scoring: In 2024, he became the first player to score 900 top-level career goals. He currently sits at 985 career goals.
• Ballon d'Or: He has won the award five times, equalling the record held by Lionel Messi at the time of his fifth win in 2017.

Club Career History

According to BBC Sport, Ronaldo's professional journey included stints at several major clubs. He began his career at Sporting, where he played 31 first-team games and scored five goals before being scouted by Manchester United following a pre-season friendly in 2003. He joined Manchester United for £12m five days after that match. During his first spell at United, he scored 118 goals in 292 games.

Following his time in England, Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for £80m. During his tenure with the club, he became their all-time top scorer, netting 450 goals in 438 games. His time at Real Madrid included winning the Copa del Rey in 2011 and multiple La Liga titles. He also played for Juventus and is currently playing for Al-Nassr.

Future Goals

While his international career is over, the 41-year-old will continue to play club football with Al-Nassr. According to BBC Sport, the main driver for Ronaldo now is the pursuit of an unprecedented 1,000 career goals. He is currently at 985 goals, leaving him 15 goals away from that milestone.

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Sources

• ft.com: Subscribe to read
• bbc.com: Cristiano Ronaldo: Top iconic moments from his career - BBC Sport
• thestar.com: Cristiano Ronaldo retires from Portugal’s national team, in photos

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.