Cristiano Ronaldo’s international football career is over.
The 41-year-old star striker announced on Thursday that he will end his time with the Portugal men’s national team. Ronaldo’s retirement comes after a 30-day ban following an altercation with new national team coach Jorge Jesus.
“The day has come for me to return the number 7 shirt of our national team. I never felt that it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it and taking it with me to stadiums around the world,” Ronaldo said in a 5-minute retirement video.
Ronaldo’s international career ends with 146 goals in 234 games over a 23-year career. He joined Lionel Messi as the only men to play in six World Cups when he appeared during the 2026 tournament in the United States.
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Ronaldo’s last appearance was on September 24 when he appeared in a Nations League game.
His club football career continues with Al Nassr in the Saudi Arabian Pro League. He made a big-dollar move to Saudi Arabia in his second stint at the club in the 2022-23 season after a high-profile wrangle with Manchester United. Ronaldo, who played in “Real Madrid” and “Juventus” between his time in “United”, returned to the club in 2021.
Ronaldo’s dispute with the new manager
Jesus has been appointed Portugal coach after being banned from the 2026 World Cup squad. Jesus, who was Ronaldo’s former coach at Al Nassr, began to look at the future of the Portugal national team, which did not include Ronaldo in a significant role.
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After being benched for the Nations League game against Norway on September 27, Ronaldo took to social media to claim that Jesus had broken many of his promises. He wrote a five-page letter with numerous claims about Jesus. In it, he even said there were talking points he wanted Jesus to share at a press conference about Ronaldo’s importance to the national team.
The public backlash led to a 30-day suspension and Jesus said the door was still open for Ronaldo to return to the national team.
Portugal’s latest career dilemma
The friction with Jesus highlighted a problem Portugal have dealt with for many seasons. Ronaldo, the captain of the team, was sometimes held accountable on the pitch. No longer a physical force, there were times when Portugal’s attacking play looked smoother and more consistent without him on the pitch.
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Ronaldo scored twice in a 5-0 group stage win over Uzbekistan and scored a penalty against Croatia during the World Cup. But Portugal’s comeback against the Croatians in the round of 32 really got off to a flying start when Ronaldo was substituted for Ruben Neves in the 81st minute. 13 minutes later, Gonzalo Ramos, replacing Ronaldo, scored the game-winner to put Portugal through.
Portugal were favorites to win Group K, but draws against Colombia and DR Congo in their opening game meant that Messi and Ronaldo would not meet on the field for the last time.
If Argentina and Portugal take the first place in their group, they will meet in the 1/4 finals. Instead, Portugal were on opposite sides of the bracket as they finished second, losing to eventual World Cup champions Spain in the Round of 16.
Ronaldo retires as career goals leader
Following Messi’s retirement from international football earlier this year, the two global superstars end their careers at the top of the all-time international goalscoring list.
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Ronaldo’s 146 goals are 20 more than Messi’s and they have played in 26 games. Ronaldo ends his Portuguese career with a goals-per-game average of 0.62. Messi’s coefficient is 0.61.
It’s another close data point in a decades-long comparison between the players, though Messi’s late-career rise has tipped the debate in his favor. Argentina won the 2022 World Cup and reached the final this summer.
While Portugal never came close to winning the World Cup under Ronaldo, they won the Euros in 2016 and added the Nations League titles in 2016 and 2025.
The Euro 2016 title came two years after Portugal exited the World Cup at the group stage. Grouped with Ghana, the USA and Germany in the group of death, Portugal lost to Germany, tied the USA and defeated Ghana. However, the USMNT advanced to the Round of 16 ahead of Portugal on goal difference.
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Portugal hosted the Euros as they won their first major international tournament. Ronaldo was forced out of the final against France after a tough fightback, but Eder’s extra-time goal was enough for a 1-0 victory. Ronaldo won the Silver Boot with 3 goals and 3 assists in the tournament.