Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football, ending a career with Portugal that began in 2003 and produced records unlikely to be matched for some time.
The 41-year-old confirmed the decision in a video posted to Instagram, alongside the caption “Portugal estará sempre em mim” — “Portugal will always be in me.” He finishes as Portugal’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 146 goals across 234 appearances.
His most significant contribution came at Euro 2016, when Portugal won their first major international trophy. He was also part of the squads that claimed the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
The announcement follows a difficult period in his relationship with the national team. Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp in September after a reported falling-out with head coach Jorge Jesus, though he insisted at the time, in a lengthy Instagram statement, that he had not retired and remained available for selection.
He had also previously acknowledged weighing up international retirement after the 2026 World Cup, and had reportedly drafted a farewell letter before Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença persuaded him to stay on. That reprieve proved short-lived.
