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Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From Portugal Duty After 23 Years, 234 Games and 146 Goals

Cristiano Ronaldo said on Thursday he is ending his Portugal career after 23 years, closing a run of 234 appearances and a men's record 146 goals that included the Euro 2016 title and two Nations League trophies.

By admin Nov. 5, 2026 · 6:43 PM ET 2 min read

An empty soccer stadium at night under bright floodlights, with red and green seats around a green pitch

Cristiano Ronaldo said on Thursday he is retiring from the Portugal national team, ending a 23-year international career that made him the most capped men’s player and the top scorer in men’s international soccer.

Ronaldo, 41, announced the decision in a video posted on social media. “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” he said. “Today the time has come to pass it on to the future.”

A plain red soccer jersey with the number 7 hanging on a hook in an empty locker room
A plain red soccer jersey with the number 7 hanging on a hook in an empty locker room

Ronaldo made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals, both men’s international records. His first game came against Kazakhstan in August 2003, when he was 18. He played in six World Cups, the first player to score at six editions, and finished with 11 World Cup goals.

Titles, and the one that got away

Portugal won its first major title at the 2016 European Championship, with Ronaldo leaving the final against France early with an injury before his team won the game. Portugal added Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.

A soccer ball resting on the grass at the center spot of a pitch at dusk, with stadium lights in the background
A soccer ball resting on the grass at the center spot of a pitch at dusk, with stadium lights in the background

The World Cup stayed out of reach. Portugal lost to Spain in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, and Ronaldo’s only goal in a World Cup knockout game was a penalty against Croatia in the last 32 of that tournament, according to Reuters.

A falling-out with the coach

The announcement followed weeks of tension with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus, who left Ronaldo out of the team against Norway. Ronaldo walked out of the Portugal camp on September 30, a day before a Nations League match in Denmark, and the Portuguese Football Federation later fined him 255 euros (about $286) and suspended him for 30 days. His last game for Portugal was a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales on September 24.

Soccer fans in red shirts waving red flags in the stands of a stadium during a night match, seen from behind
Soccer fans in red shirts waving red flags in the stands of a stadium during a night match, seen from behind

Ronaldo did not mention the dispute in his announcement, according to USA Today. The Portuguese Football Federation thanked Ronaldo for his contribution and said he should receive “the tribute he deserves,” leaving open the chance of a farewell game. Reuters reported that his retirement would take effect after the November international break.

Ronaldo is not retiring from soccer. He will keep playing for Al-Nassr, the Saudi club he joined in 2023, under a contract that runs to June 2027. He has 985 career goals across club and country after a hat trick last week, and he told Vogue in August: “This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy.”

His exit follows that of Lionel Messi, who retired from the Argentina national team in July after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain.

Reporting based on coverage by Reuters and USA Today.

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