The Athletic: Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international duty with Portugal.
The 41-year-old’s 234th and most recent appearance for his nation was a 1-0 win against Wales in September.
Ronaldo left the Portugal camp early after being an unused substitute in the following game, an action for which he was fined €255 (£215; $286) and given a backdated 30-day suspension. After leaving Portugal’s squad, he released a 1,740-word statement explaining his decision and apologising to his team-mates, adding he would not retire.
However on Thursday, the forward released a statement on his social media announcing the end of his international career.
“The day has come back for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” he said in a 866-word speech. “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.
“Today, the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision. Because some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart.
“A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end. When I look back at everything with the national team, I don’t just see the matches, goals, records or trophies.
“Goals fade. Trophies end up in museums. Records are eventually broken. But there is something that time can never erase: the place we hold in people’s hearts.”
The forward also thanked his team-mates “for every run, for every embrace, for every argument, for every silence before stepping onto the pitch, for every victory we celebrated together, and every defeat that made us stronger”.
The Portuguese football federation released a statement the same morning expressing its’ “deepest and most enduring gratitude to its eternal captain” and announcing plans for a “fitting tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo’s immense career”.
No men’s footballer has made as many international appearances (234) or scored as many goals (146) for their nation as Ronaldo, who is widely recognised as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
The five-time Ballon d’Or-winner made his international debut in 2003, and won the 2016 European Championship, in addition to two Nations League titles, with Portugal.
Ronaldo scored three goals at this summer’s World Cup as his nation exited at the last-16 stage, losing to eventual winners Spain. He said before the tournament that the 2026 edition — a record sixth World Cup iteration in which he has appeared and scored — would be his last.
His long-time rival Lionel Messi confirmed his international retirement at the end of August and played his final match against Benin in the last international window.
