Cristiano Ronaldo Announces Retirement from International Football

Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday that he is retiring from international football, ending a career that spanned six World Cups and included a European title and the men’s all-time international scoring record.

The Announcement

In a video message shared on social media, the 41-year-old Ronaldo stated, “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team.” He noted that the decision was not made with the mind alone, but also with the heart.

“A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end,” Ronaldo said.

Career Milestones and Records

Ronaldo’s international career included several significant achievements:

• Appearances: He recorded 234 appearances for Portugal, which remains the all-time men's international record.
• Scoring: He scored 146 goals for Portugal. He is currently in pursuit of his 1,000th career goal, sitting at 985.
• World Cup: He was the first man to score in six World Cups and reached 11 goals at the 2026 World Cup.
• Euro Championships: He holds the record for the most Euro appearances (30) and most Euro goals (14).
• Consistency: He scored for Portugal in 23 consecutive calendar years, from 2004 to 2026.

Departure from the National Team

Ronaldo's final appearance for Portugal occurred on Sept. 24 in a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales. Following that match, coach Jorge Jesus kept Ronaldo on the bench for the subsequent match and stated he did not plan to start him in the following game. Consequently, Ronaldo decided to leave the team's training camp. Jesus later stated that Ronaldo would be welcome back and that the decision to return was up to him.

While he is retiring from international play, Ronaldo is expected to continue playing at the club level with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia until the end of this season.

Portugal's Response

The Portuguese soccer federation expressed “deep gratitude and immense admiration” for Ronaldo's service. The federation stated, “Cristiano Ronaldo has raised Portugal’s profile and inspired generations of young people who dream of following in his footsteps; for many of us, he is the greatest player of all time!” The organization intends to organize a tribute to celebrate the player.

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Sources

• globalnews.ca: Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo announces international retirement from Portugal - National | Globalnews.ca
• thestar.com: Cristiano Ronaldo's international soccer career by the numbers
• nbcnews.com: Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo announces his international retirement from Portugal

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