Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from the Portuguese national team on November 5, ending a 23-year international career that included 234 appearances and 146 goals, both world records.
The 41-year-old forward stated in an Instagram video that he would hand back the number seven shirt after the November international break. "To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven 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."
Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal in August 2003 and went on to play in six World Cups and six European Championships. His international career included winning the 2016 UEFA European Championship and two UEFA Nations League titles. He holds the all-time records for most international appearances and goals in men's football.
Final Appearance and Recent Events
Ronaldo’s last match for Portugal was a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales on September 24. His retirement follows a public fallout with head coach Jorge Jesus in September, during which Ronaldo walked out of the national team camp after being informed he would not start in a match against Denmark. Jesus later stated Ronaldo would be welcome to return, but the player decided to step away.
Reaction from Portugal Football Federation
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) released a statement expressing "deep gratitude and immense admiration" for Ronaldo’s contributions. "Cristiano Ronaldo has raised Portugal’s profile and inspired generations of young people who dream of following in his footsteps," the statement said. The FPF also announced plans to organize a tribute to Ronaldo, allowing fans to honor his legacy.
Legacy and Records
Ronaldo’s international career spanned 20 years, during which he scored 146 goals in 234 matches. His achievements include the all-time men’s international scoring record, surpassing Ali Daei’s previous mark of 109 goals. He also shares the record for most World Cup appearances (6) with Lionel Messi.
Despite his individual success, Ronaldo’s international career did not include a World Cup final appearance. Portugal’s best World Cup results under his tenure were semi-finals in 2006 and quarter-finals in 2022. His final major tournament was the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Portugal was eliminated in the last 16 by Morocco.
Personal Reflections
In his retirement message, Ronaldo acknowledged the emotional weight of his decision. "Today the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the mind alone—they are also made with the heart," he said. He expressed pride in his work and emphasized his willingness to pass the number seven jersey to the next generation, including his 16-year-old son, Cristiano Junior, who was recently called up to Portugal’s Under-17 team.
Portugal’s national team will now transition to a new era without one of football’s most iconic players, as the federation prepares to honor Ronaldo’s legacy in the coming months.