Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday that he will retire from the Portugal national team, concluding an international career that spanned 23 years. The 41-year-old forward stated in a social media video that he will no longer wear the No. 7 shirt for his country, a decision he described as being made with both "the mind" and "the heart."
Ronaldo's international career began in August 2003 and included appearances in six World Cups and a European Championship title. His final match for Portugal took place on September 24 in a 1-0 victory over Wales during the Nations League. The announcement follows a period of tension with national team coach Jorge Jesus, who recently kept Ronaldo on the bench and stated he did not plan to start him in upcoming matches.
The Portuguese soccer federation issued a statement expressing "deep gratitude and immense admiration" for Ronaldo, noting that he holds the men's all-time international scoring record with 146 goals in 234 appearances. The federation announced plans to organize a public tribute to celebrate his career. While retiring from international duty, Ronaldo intends to continue playing for his club, Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, through the end of the current season as he pursues his 1,000th career goal.
On a broader scale, the transition marks the end of an era for international soccer's most prominent individual records. Ronaldo retires as the all-time leading men's international goal scorer with 146 goals. His departure follows the recent retirement of Lionel Messi from the Argentina national team. The financial impact is also notable; Bloomberg reported in October 2025 that Ronaldo reached billionaire status.
For Al-Nassr and the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo’s focus will now shift to club play for the remainder of the season. He currently has 985 career goals. The Portuguese soccer federation has not yet announced a specific date for his official tribute match. Ronaldo is expected to finish his professional club career at the end of this season.