Portugal will lose the player who holds football’s all-time records for international appearances and goals, after Cristiano Ronaldo ended his career with the national team.
Ronaldo, 41, announced his retirement on Thursday in a social media post and an Instagram video issued on 5 November 2026.
His Portugal story began in August 2003, when he made his international debut and first wore the number 7 shirt. He kept it for 23 years.
There were major trophies along the way. Ronaldo won the 2016 Euros with Portugal and added two Nations League titles.
This summer’s World Cup was the sixth global finals in which he had appeared and scored, a record.
Last month, Ronaldo walked out of the Portugal camp after being told he would not start the Nations League match against Denmark.
In his video message, he said: ‘To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No 7 shirt of our national team’.
He said he would return the shirt after the November international break.
‘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 said.
Ronaldo also said: ‘A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end’.
He leaves Portugal with 234 appearances and 146 goals, the all-time records in both categories.
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