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Portuguese football superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, has announced his retirement from international football, bringing his 23-year career with the national team to an end.
The 41-year-old forward announced his decision in an emotional message shared on his Instagram account on Thursday, November 5, 2026, saying he was ready to hand over Portugal’s iconic number seven shirt to the next generation.
Ronaldo described the decision as difficult, noting that his journey with the national team had changed his life forever.
“The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” he said.
He added, “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.
“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.”
According to Reuters, Ronaldo will bring his international career to a close after the November international break.
Reflecting on his time with Portugal, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward said his experience went beyond goals, records, trophies and matches, highlighting the supporters and people who contributed to his journey.
“A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end. When I look back at everything with the national team, I don’t just see the matches, goals, records or trophies.
“I see people. I see the Portuguese people living abroad who, for 90 minutes, felt a little closer to home. I see millions of Portuguese people I have never met but who became part of my life. Because at the end of the day, football is so much bigger than a game. Football is about people,” he said.
Ronaldo also acknowledged the disappointments and challenges he experienced while representing his country, insisting that he had always given his best for Portugal.
“I made mistakes. I suffered. There were also moments when I couldn’t give the Portuguese people what they so desperately wanted. But I never gave up. And above all, I never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal,” he added.
Ronaldo retires as the highest-scoring player in men's international football history, with 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, according to UEFA figures.
He is also the most-capped male international footballer in history.
His international career began on August 20, 2003, against Kazakhstan, before he featured at the 2004 European Championship, where Portugal finished as runners-up after losing the final to Greece.
He later captained Portugal to its first major international trophy at Euro 2016, despite being forced off injured during the final against France.
Portugal subsequently won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
Beyond international football, Ronaldo established himself as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, winning five Ballon d'Or awards and five UEFA Champions League titles.
He also won domestic league titles in England, Spain and Italy during spells with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, among other clubs.
The forward became Real Madrid's all-time leading goalscorer during his nine-year spell at the Spanish club.
His retirement marks the end of one of the most remarkable international careers in football history.
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