LISBON — An era of footballing history has drawn to a close. Cristiano Ronaldo, the man who redefined longevity and scoring prowess for Portugal, announced his retirement from international soccer on Thursday, marking the end of a legendary 23-year journey.
The 41-year-old took to social media to share the news, posting a heartfelt video in which he read a letter to his global following. “The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo stated. “I never thought it belonged to me alone. But for 23 years, I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it.”
Ronaldo exits the international stage as a titan of the sport. His record-shattering tenure saw him earn 234 caps for Portugal, while netting a staggering 146 goals—both figures standing as all-time international benchmarks. Beyond the statistics, he transformed Portugal from underdogs into genuine contenders, famously guiding the nation to its first major international trophy at Euro 2016, followed by success in the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
However, the twilight of his international career was not without turbulence. In recent years, as his physical prowess began to wane, his automatic selection prompted debate among fans and critics alike. The tension reached a boiling point last month when, following a high-profile rift with new head coach Jorge Jesus, Ronaldo departed a national training camp in frustration. While he later offered an apology, the incident signaled a fraying relationship between the icon and the setup he had led for over two decades.
His departure follows the recent retirement of his longtime on-pitch rival, Lionel Messi, who hung up his boots for Argentina earlier this year. With both giants of the game stepping away from their national teams, a definitive chapter of world football has effectively shuttered.
Despite the complexities of his final years, his legacy remains untarnished for the vast majority of Portuguese supporters. He remains, by every metric, the greatest player his country has ever produced.
“It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not made only with the head. They are also made with the heart,” Ronaldo said in the video, titled “Portugal will always be a part of me.” He concluded with a poignant message to his supporters: “If I ever made you happy, if one of my goals ever made you hug someone, forget a worry or feel proud of our country, then it was all worth it.”
Ronaldo will not be retiring from the sport entirely. He remains under contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, where he continues his pursuit of 1,000 career goals, currently sitting at 985. For now, however, the number 7 jersey of Portugal will finally find a new home.
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