Heartfelt: Cristiano Ronaldo opens up after retiring from the Portugal national team, ending a 23-year legacy.
On 5 Nov 2026 GMT+7, Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portugal striker, officially announced his retirement from international football.
The 41-year-old forward leaves behind records of 146 goals and 234 caps for Portugal, both world records since his debut in 2003.
Earlier in September, Ronaldo decided to leave the Portugal camp after being informed by coach Jorge Jesus that he would not start in the UEFA Nations League match against Denmark.
Ronaldo shared in an Instagram video after deciding to retire from the national team, "To all my Portuguese brothers and sisters, today is the day I must return the number 7 jersey of our national team."
"I never felt this jersey belonged to me alone, but over the past 23 years, I have been honored and responsible to wear, protect, and carry it onto the field around the world."
"Today, it is time to pass this jersey to the next generation. This is not an easy decision because sometimes decisions come not only from the mind but also from the heart."
"The journey that began in August 2003, which changed my life forever, has now reached its conclusion."
Cristiano Ronaldo won three major trophies with Portugal: Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League twice in 2019 and 2025. He played in six World Cups and six European Championships. He has now scored 985 goals for club and country, approaching the 1,000-goal milestone in his career.