Cristiano Ronaldo retires from Portugal national team after 234 caps and 146 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo is finished with the Portuguese national team.

The 41-year-old announced his retirement from international football on Thursday, Nov. 5, in a long video posted to social media. He ends with 234 appearances and 146 goals, both men's international records.

"To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 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."

The video carried the caption "Portugal will always be in me."

The numbers

Ronaldo debuted against Kazakhstan on Aug. 20, 2003. His first international goal came against Greece at Euro 2004.

Of his 146 goals, 124 came in competitive matches. He scored 10 international hat-tricks and four goals in a single game twice.

He captained Portugal to its first major trophy, Euro 2016. He also won the Nations League in 2019 and 2025. His career spanned six World Cups.

Portugal's most recent World Cup ended in the round of 16, with a loss to Spain, the eventual champions. Ronaldo said after that tournament it would be his last, and added that he would not make any rash decisions.

The fight with Jorge Jesus

The exit follows a blowup during the last international break. Ronaldo did not play in Portugal's 2-1 Nations League win over Norway and left the training camp. He went straight to the dressing room and did not applaud the travelling fans.

Portugal suspended him from international duty and fined him. Sky Sports described the fine as one he could pay off in 39 seconds.

Ronaldo's side of it: he said Jesus broke a promise. He claimed he was told he would come off the bench, started warming up, and the coach changed his mind.

CNN reported that Ronaldo later apologized, and that it appeared he would carry on with the national team.

CNN also reported that his relationship with Portugal had soured over the past few years because of declining performances. In its account, fans grew frustrated as he kept starting while his impact faded. Ronaldo's farewell does not mention Jesus.

His own words were about legacy. "The goals pass, the cups are in museums, the records end up being beaten," he said. "But there is something that time can never erase, the place we occupy in people's hearts."

"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."

What comes next

Ronaldo is not leaving the game. He plays for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and sits on 985 career goals, 15 short of 1,000.

The open question is timing. Reuters reported that Ronaldo said he would hand back the shirt after the November international break. Portugal are due to play Denmark and Wales in the Nations League later this month.

Ronaldo's video says, "Today I finish my walk on the pitch with the national team." The Sporting News read that as a sign he has stepped away before those games.

The Portuguese federation has not said whether he will be in the squad for Denmark and Wales. It also has not said who will wear the No. 7.