Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From Portugal Duty After 23 Years, Turns Down Farewell Match

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, ending a 23-year Portugal career in which he became the most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer in men’s international football.

The 41-year-old confirmed the decision on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in an emotional video posted on social media, stating that he would hand back the national team’s iconic number 7 shirt.

“The day has come back for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo said. “I never felt it belonged to me alone. But for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it, and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world”.

Ronaldo leaves with 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal, both men’s world records. He won Euro 2016 and two Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025 during his international career. His final appearance came on September 24, 2026, in a 1-0 Nations League win against Wales.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) released a statement expressing its “deepest and most enduring gratitude to its eternal captain” and announced plans for a “fitting tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo’s immense career”. However, reports indicate Ronaldo has no intention of participating in a farewell match.

Portuguese journalist Pedro Sepulveda stated that Ronaldo will not play a tribute game while coach Jorge Jesus remains in charge. “I can assure you that until Jorge Jesus leaves the Portuguese national team, the final friendly match where everyone can say goodbye to Ronaldo will not take place,” he said.

A scheduled phone call between Ronaldo and Jesus, mediated by FPF president Pedro Proença, did not take place because Ronaldo refused to speak with the coach.

The conflict stemmed from the September international window, when Ronaldo left the Portugal camp after being an unused substitute in a match against Norway. He was subsequently fined and given a backdated 30-day suspension.

Ronaldo reportedly brought forward his retirement announcement to avoid being called up for the November fixtures against Denmark and Wales, which would have forced him to publicly decline the invitation.

In his farewell message, Ronaldo reflected on his career. “I leave with my head held high, with pride in the path I took, and with the awareness that I gave everything I had for Portugal,” he said. “The goals pass, the cups are in museums, the records end up being beaten. But there is something that time can never erase, the place we occupy in people’s hearts”.

He added: “I spent my life working to be the best player in the world. Today I realise that the greatest victory was to have deserved to represent the best country in the world”.

Ronaldo continues to play club football for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where he is pursuing a record 1,000 career goals. He currently sits on 985 official goals.