Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From Portugal Team and Hands Back the Number 7 Shirt

Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from the Portugal national team on Thursday in a social media post and video, ending the most prolific international career in men's football. Reuters reported that the 41-year-old said he would hand back the number 7 shirt after the November international break.

"The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team," Ronaldo said in his announcement video, in comments reported by CNN. "I never thought it belonged to me alone. But for 23 years, I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it."

A record that stands alone

Ronaldo played a record 234 times for Portugal and scored a record 146 international goals, CNN reported. No man has made more international appearances or scored more international goals. The numbers close a Portugal career that began in 2003, when he made his debut aged 18, and ran through five World Cup cycles and a long spell as the team's captain and focal point.

He became captain in 2008 and led Portugal to the European Championship title in 2016, the first major trophy in the country's history. He later led the team to UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025, The Times reported. His last appearance for Portugal came on September 24 against Wales in Lisbon, according to The Sun.

"It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not made only with the head," Ronaldo said. "They are also made with the heart."

A final month marked by a fallout

The announcement follows a difficult final month with the national team. Last month Ronaldo fell out with head coach Jorge Jesus after Jesus refused to use him in a Nations League match, and Ronaldo left the team camp. He later apologised, The Times reported.

He was an unused substitute in Portugal's 2-1 Nations League win over Norway on September 27. Fox Sports Australia reported that he was suspended for 30 days and fined 255 euros after leaving camp on September 30. On the facts reported before Thursday, he could still have returned for the Nations League matches against Denmark on November 14 and Wales on November 17. Instead, Thursday's announcement closes that path.

"Today, my journey on the pitch with the national team comes to an end," Ronaldo said, in comments reported by The Times. "I leave with my head held high, proud of the path I have taken, and knowing that I gave everything I had for Portugal."

Club career continues

Ronaldo is not retiring from football altogether. CNN reported that he still plays for Al-Nassr and is on 985 career goals, closing in on 1,000. His decision affects only the national team, and his club career continues in Saudi Arabia.

Portugal are set to play Denmark and Wales in the UEFA Nations League in the November international break. Ronaldo had been included in the preliminary squad announced in late October, a selection that had opened the door to a return after the rift with Jesus. That return will now not happen on the pitch. Portugal will play the two matches, and the fixtures after them, without the player who wore the number 7 shirt for 23 years, made 234 appearances and scored 146 goals, records that leave him alone at the top of the international game.