First posted on Instagram
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing to an end a 23-year career with Portugal that made him the most capped men's international player and the leading scorer in the history of the men's game.
The 41-year-old confirmed the decision on Thursday in a video message posted on his social media accounts, saying the time had come to hand back the No. 7 shirt he first wore in August 2003. "To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team," he said. "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. A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end," he said. "Today I finish my walk on the pitch with the national team. I leave with my head held high, with pride in the path I took, and with the awareness that I gave everything I had for Portugal."
Ronaldo's final appearance came on September 24, a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales. He was left on the bench for the following match and, after a row with head coach Jorge Jesus, left the team's training camp before the game against Denmark. The Portuguese Football Federation suspended him for 30 days and fined him 255 euros.
He retires with 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal, both men's records, and with three major trophies: the European Championship in 2016 and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025. He played in a record six European Championships and a joint-record six World Cups, and holds the individual record for the most international victories, with 141.
The Portuguese Football Federation said it had "deep gratitude and immense admiration" for Ronaldo's service and promised to organise an event in his honour, calling him the country's "eternal captain."
His announcement comes weeks after his long-time rival Lionel Messi played a farewell match for Argentina last month. Like Messi, Ronaldo will continue at club level: he plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he is expected to finish his club career at the end of this season, and is chasing a record 1,000 career goals. He currently has 985.
Portugal continue their Nations League group stage without him, with games against Denmark in Braga on November 14 and away to Wales in Cardiff three days later.