The 41-year-old forward made the announcement on Thursday, November 5, 2026, through an emotional video shared on his Instagram account, where he read a farewell message to supporters.
In his message, Ronaldo reflected on the privilege of representing his country and indicated that the time had come to pass on Portugal’s famous number 7 shirt to a new generation.
“The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” he said.
He added that although the shirt never belonged to him alone, wearing it for more than two decades had been one of the greatest responsibilities and privileges of his career.
Ronaldo leaves behind an extraordinary international record, having made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals, making him the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer.
His retirement marks the end of an era for Portuguese football, with the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus striker having established himself as one of the most influential figures in the history of the national team.
Across his 23-year international journey, Ronaldo became a symbol of Portugal’s footballing success and earned a place among the greatest players to have represented their countries.
His departure from international football now brings an end to one of the longest and most celebrated careers in the modern game.
