Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From International Football: 146 Goals, 234 Caps, All the Records, Why He Quit and What Happens Next
Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football. The 41-year-old Portugal captain announced the decision in an emotional video message on social media on Thursday, 5 November 2026, saying the day had come to "hand back the number 7 shirt" of the national team. The announcement closes a 23-year international career that began in August 2003 and ends with Ronaldo holding the two biggest records in men's international football: 234 appearances and 146 goals — more than any player in history. He is not retiring from football completely and will continue playing for his club, Al-Nassr. Below is the full story: what Ronaldo said, his career in numbers, the records that may never be broken, the real story behind why he walked away now, the reaction from Portugal, and what happens next.
Cristiano Ronaldo Retirement: Quick Facts
| Announcement date | Thursday, 5 November 2026 |
| Age | 41 (born 5 February 1985, Funchal, Madeira) |
| Portugal debut | 20 August 2003 vs Kazakhstan (aged 18) |
| Final Portugal match | 24 September 2026 vs Wales — 1-0 Nations League win |
| Appearances (caps) | 234 — world record |
| International goals | 146 — world record |
| Major trophies with Portugal | 3 — Euro 2016, Nations League 2019, Nations League 2025 |
| World Cups played | 6 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026) |
| Retiring from all football? | No — he continues at Al-Nassr |
What Ronaldo Said in His Farewell Message
Ronaldo confirmed the news himself in a video posted across his social media accounts, speaking directly to the Portuguese people. His words were simple and emotional:
"To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team. I never felt it was exclusively mine."
"A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end."
"The number seven shirt will remain. The pride of having worn it will be mine forever. Portugal will always be a part of me. Farewell, until we meet again."
He captioned the video with the Portuguese words "Portugal estará sempre em mim" — "Portugal will always be in me." Notably, the message did not mention Portugal's head coach or the difficult final weeks of his international career; it was framed purely as a farewell to the fans and the shirt he wore for more than two decades.
A 23-Year Journey: From Teenage Debut to Eternal Captain
- 2003: A skinny 18-year-old from Sporting CP makes his Portugal debut against Kazakhstan in August, days after impressing Sir Alex Ferguson in a friendly against Manchester United — the move that launched his club career.
- 2004: Reaches the Euro 2004 final on home soil; Portugal lose to Greece and a tearful 19-year-old Ronaldo becomes the image of the tournament.
- 2006: Helps Portugal reach the World Cup semi-finals in Germany in his first World Cup.
- 2008: Becomes Portugal's permanent captain at just 23 — a role he would hold for 18 years.
- 2016: The defining triumph. Ronaldo captains Portugal to their first-ever major trophy at Euro 2016 in France. Injured early in the final against the hosts, he famously drives the team on from the touchline as Éder's extra-time goal wins the cup.
- 2018: Scores a legendary hat-trick against Spain at the World Cup in Russia, including a late free-kick to rescue a 3-3 draw.
- 2019: Lifts the first-ever UEFA Nations League trophy, beating the Netherlands in the final in Porto.
- 2021: Breaks the world record for international goals. His two late goals against the Republic of Ireland on 1 September 2021 take him to 111, past Iran's Ali Daei (109).
- 2023: Breaks the world appearances record against Liechtenstein on 23 March — his 197th cap, passing Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa — and scores twice. Later that year he becomes the first man ever to reach 200 caps.
- 2025: Wins the Nations League for a second time, Portugal's third major trophy — all three won with Ronaldo as captain.
- 2026: At his sixth World Cup he scores against Croatia in the round of 32, becoming the first player in history to score at six different World Cups. Portugal's run ends against Spain in the next round. His final appearance comes on 24 September 2026, a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales.
The Records Ronaldo Leaves Behind
Some football records are broken every few years. Ronaldo's two biggest marks — most caps and most goals in men's international football — may stand for generations, because no active player is anywhere near them.
| Record | Ronaldo's mark |
|---|---|
| Most international goals (men) | 146 |
| Most international appearances (men) | 234 caps |
| Scoring at different World Cups | 6 — the only player ever |
| World Cup goals | 11 — a Portugal record (passing Eusébio's 9) |
| European Championship goals | 14 — all-time record |
| European Championship appearances | 30 matches across 6 tournaments — all-time record |
| International hat-tricks | 10 — all-time record |
| Scoring in consecutive calendar years | 23 years in a row (2004–2026) |
| First man to 200 international caps | Reached in 2023 |
For comparison, the second-highest international scorer in history, Lionel Messi, finished his Argentina career this year with 126 goals — a full 20 behind Ronaldo. The gap underneath Ronaldo's records is exactly why statisticians call them "nearly unbreakable".
Why Did Ronaldo Retire Now? The Story Behind the Decision
The timing surprised many fans, because Ronaldo had originally planned to stop after the 2026 World Cup. According to reporting in the United States and Portugal, he was persuaded to continue by head coach Jorge Jesus and Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) president Pedro Proença — and he did play once more, against Wales in September.
But the weeks that followed turned sour. Ronaldo became involved in a public fallout with coach Jorge Jesus — the same coach who had previously managed him at Al-Nassr. Angered by his treatment, Ronaldo walked out of the national team camp on 30 September, one day before a Nations League match against Denmark. The FPF punished him with a remarkably light sentence — a €255 fine and a 30-day suspension that did not cause him to miss any matches — but the relationship never recovered.
On Thursday, Ronaldo ended the story on his own terms. His farewell message did not mention the dispute at all. Jesus, for his part, said after the announcement that he had been hoping to bring the forward back into the national team setup. Ronaldo will turn 42 in February, and with the next World Cup cycle beginning without him, both sides have now drawn a line under the most successful era in Portuguese football history.
Reaction: Portugal Promises a Fitting Tribute
The Portuguese Football Federation responded with a lengthy tribute to its "eternal captain", saying it praised and thanked Ronaldo with "deep gratitude and immense admiration" for an "absolutely extraordinary career" in the service of his country. Crucially, the federation promised that this farewell will not pass without ceremony: it said it is its "firm and immense desire" to organise a fitting tribute event in his honour.
Portugal's next chapter begins immediately. The team face Denmark in the Nations League in Braga on 14 November and travel to Cardiff to play Wales three days later — the first Portugal squad of the post-Ronaldo era is due to be announced on Friday, and for the first time in 23 years, the number 7 will be waiting for a new owner.
The End of an Era: Messi and Ronaldo Gone in the Same Year
Ronaldo's announcement completes a moment football fans knew was coming but never wanted to see. Lionel Messi also ended his Argentina career in 2026, bowing out after the World Cup and a farewell match in October, finishing with 126 goals in 208 appearances. Within a few months, international football has lost the two greatest players of the modern age — rivals for two decades whose duel pushed both to numbers the sport had never seen. The debate about who was greater will never end, but the era itself now has.
What Happens Next for Ronaldo?
This is an international retirement, not a full retirement. Ronaldo will continue playing club football for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he has played since 2023 and where his contract runs until June 2027. Reports suggest this season may still be his last: in an interview published in August, he said, "This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy." He is also chasing one final personal milestone — he currently sits on 985 career goals, just 15 short of the almost unthinkable 1,000-goal mark. A farewell tribute match or ceremony with Portugal is also expected, after the FPF's public promise of a formal honour.
FAQs
Has Cristiano Ronaldo retired from football completely?
No. He has retired from international football with Portugal only. He will continue playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, although he has hinted this could be his final season as a player.
How many goals and appearances did Ronaldo finish with for Portugal?
He finished with 146 goals in 234 appearances — both are world records in men's international football.
What was Cristiano Ronaldo's last match for Portugal?
His final appearance was on 24 September 2026, a 1-0 UEFA Nations League win over Wales.
Why did Ronaldo retire from Portugal?
At 41, he had already considered retiring after the 2026 World Cup. After being persuaded to stay on, a fallout with head coach Jorge Jesus — including Ronaldo walking out of the team camp in September and receiving a fine and suspension — brought his international career to an early close.
Who will wear Portugal's number 7 shirt and captain the team now?
That has not been announced yet. The first post-Ronaldo Portugal squad is due on Friday, ahead of Nations League matches against Denmark (14 November) and Wales (17 November), and the FPF has promised a formal tribute to Ronaldo.