Ronaldo says goodbye to the national team
Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international soccer, ending a Portugal career that, according to NBC News, spanned six World Cups and included a European title. He announced the decision on Thursday in a long video message on social media.
“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team,” the 41-year-old said. He added that he never felt the shirt belonged only to him, and that he had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it for 23 years.
Ronaldo described the choice as a hard one, made with the heart as well as the mind. He said the journey that began in August 2003 and changed his life had come to an end.
A fallout with the coach
The departure was not the farewell some fans might have expected. Ronaldo's last appearance for Portugal was on Sept. 24, a 1-0 home win over Wales in the Nations League, according to the report.
Coach Jorge Jesus then kept him on the bench for the next match and said he did not plan to start him in the one after that. Ronaldo responded by leaving the team's training camp.
Jesus later said Ronaldo would be welcome back and that the decision to return was up to the player. The report contrasted the exit with that of longtime rival Lionel Messi, who ended his Argentina career last month after a widely anticipated farewell match.
A record-setting international career
Ronaldo made his Portugal debut in a 2003 friendly against Kazakhstan, replacing Luís Figo. Before that, the country had never won a major trophy, according to the source. Portugal then became a regular at major tournaments, winning its first major title at Euro 2016 and taking the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
Portugal had reached the World Cup only three times before his arrival, in 1966, 1986 and 2002, and the European Championship three times, in 1984, 1996 and 2000. With Ronaldo in the squad, the team qualified for every edition of both tournaments. Its best World Cup result in his era was fourth place in 2006, and its best since then was a quarterfinal in 2022.
He was the first man to score at six World Cups. He reached 11 World Cup goals this year, passing the previous Portugal record of nine held by Eusébio. His 146 goals in 234 appearances are the men's international records for goals and caps. He was also the first player to reach 200 men's international appearances.
At the European Championship he has the most appearances, with 30, and the most goals, with 14. His first international goal came at the start of Euro 2004, when host Portugal finished runner-up to Greece.
Reaction and what comes next
The Portuguese soccer federation said it felt “deep gratitude and immense admiration” for Ronaldo. It said he had raised the country's profile and inspired young people, adding, “for many of us, he is the greatest player of all time!”
The federation said it intends to organize a tribute “in which the fans and the country can one more time applaud and celebrate a player who has given us so much.”
Ronaldo will keep playing at club level with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he is expected to finish his career at the end of this season. He is chasing a round-number career goals milestone and currently sits on 985. In his message, he said he made mistakes and suffered, but that “I never gave up, I never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal.”
