Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football after 23 years representing the national team.
The 41-year-old forward disclosed his decision in an emotional message shared on his Instagram account on Thursday, announcing that he was handing over Portugal’s iconic number seven shirt after a career he described as life-changing.
“The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo said.
He added, “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.”
Ronaldo, who made his senior international debut in August 2003, said his journey with Portugal had come to an end, reflecting on the people, experiences and memories that defined his time with the national team.
“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.
“I see people. I see the Portuguese people living abroad who, for 90 minutes, felt a little closer to home. I see millions of Portuguese people I have never met but who became part of my life. Because at the end of the day, football is so much bigger than a game. Football is about people,” he said.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also reflected on the sacrifices and determination that characterised his international career, saying he had always pushed himself to achieve more while representing his country.
“Throughout my entire career with the national team, I always pushed myself beyond my limits.
“I wanted to win, I wanted to be better, I wanted to make history. I always demanded the most of myself. I always wanted more. I always believed we could go further. And I gave everything I had for this shirt,” he said.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward also acknowledged the disappointments and setbacks he experienced, including occasions when he felt he had fallen short of the expectations of Portuguese supporters.
“I made mistakes. I suffered. There were also moments when I couldn’t give the Portuguese people what they so desperately wanted. But I never gave up. And above all, I never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal,” he added.
Ronaldo leaves the national team as the highest-scoring player in men’s international football, with 146 goals in 234 appearances, according to UEFA figures updated in October 2026.
He is also the most-capped male international footballer in history, having surpassed the previous record held by Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.
In 2026, Ronaldo also became the first player to score at six different FIFA World Cup tournaments.
His international career began on August 20, 2003, when he featured against Kazakhstan. He subsequently represented Portugal at the 2004 European Championship, where the country finished as runners-up after losing the final to Greece.
He went on to captain Portugal to their first major international trophy at Euro 2016, despite being forced off with an injury during the final against France.
Portugal later won the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019 before claiming the title again in 2025.
At club level, Ronaldo established himself as one of football’s most decorated players, winning five Ballon d’Or awards and five UEFA Champions League titles during spells with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, among other clubs.
He also won league titles in England, Spain and Italy and remains Real Madrid’s all-time leading goalscorer following his nine-year spell at the Spanish club.
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