Twenty-three years after a teenage winger from Madeira first pulled on Portugal’s shirt, Cristiano Ronaldo has walked away from international football. The 41-year-old announced on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in a video of almost five minutes posted to social media, that his time with the national team is over. He leaves as the most-capped and highest-scoring player in men’s international history, but the ending came weeks after a public row with Portugal’s head coach that saw him suspended by his own federation.
Quick answer: Cristiano Ronaldo retired from international football on November 5, 2026, aged 41. He finishes with 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal (both men’s world records), plus Euro 2016 and two Nations League titles. The decision follows a falling-out with coach Jorge Jesus in October. He is not retiring from club football and remains under contract with Saudi club Al Nassr until 2027.
What Ronaldo said in his retirement message
Ronaldo posted the video with a short caption in Portuguese, “Portugal estará sempre em mim”, which translates as “Portugal will always be in me”. The message was reflective rather than angry, and made no direct reference to the dispute that preceded it.
English translations published by outlets including Sky Sports and Eastern Eye include these lines:
- “Today I end my journey on the pitch with the national team.”
- “The goals pass, the cups are in museums, the records end up being beaten.”
- “Today I realise that the greatest victory was to have deserved to represent the best country in the world.”
- “Thank you for these 23 years. Thank you for having believed in me. Portugal will always be in me. Forever.”
- “The number seven shirt stays, and the pride of having worn it will be mine forever.”
He also admitted, “I also failed, I also suffered,” and said that when he looks back he sees more than games and trophies, including “immigrants who, for 90 minutes, felt Portugal a little closer.” He thanked teammates, coaches, his family and Portuguese supporters around the world.
Because the original video is in Portuguese, wording differs slightly between translations; the meaning is the same across all of them.
Why it is trending everywhere
Ronaldo is one of the most followed people on the planet, so any major career decision travels fast. “Ronaldo” was one of the biggest searches in the UK on Thursday, and interest spiked across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Asia within hours of the video going live.
There is also a sense of an era closing. According to The National, Lionel Messi made his final appearance for Argentina last month in a friendly win over Benin. With both players now finished at international level, the rivalry that defined two decades of football has ended on the international stage.
The row with Jorge Jesus that came first
The retirement did not come out of nowhere. Ronaldo’s relationship with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus broke down during the October international break:
- Ronaldo was an unused substitute in Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League win over Norway in Oslo. ESPN reported that he went straight to the dressing room after the match and did not join teammates in applauding the travelling fans.
- He then left the team’s base in Copenhagen before the Nations League match against Denmark.
- In a lengthy statement he accused Jesus of twice breaking his word about his role, saying he had been told he would come on, had started warming up, and then the coach changed his mind. Jesus denied making any agreement but left the door open for a return.
- The Portuguese Football Federation opened disciplinary proceedings on October 9. On October 19 its disciplinary council suspended Ronaldo for 30 days and fined him 255 euros, according to Reuters reporting carried by Al Jazeera.
Ronaldo apologised for not acknowledging the supporters and for leaving his teammates, and said at the time that he remained available for selection once the punishment was served. Federation president Pedro Proença said everyone at the federation wanted him back. Just over two weeks later, he decided instead to stop.
Ronaldo’s Portugal career in numbers
| Record or stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Portugal debut | August 2003 |
| Years with the national team | 23 |
| Appearances | 234 (most by any men’s international) |
| Goals | 146 (most by any men’s international) |
| European Championship goals | 14 (tournament record) |
| World Cup goals | 11 in 27 matches |
| World Cups scored at | 6 (the only man to do it) |
| Major trophies | Euro 2016, Nations League 2019 and 2025 |
| Age at retirement | 41 |
Figures as reported by ESPN, The National and Eastern Eye. One early report gave a different appearance total; the 234 figure is the one used by most outlets.
How the 2026 World Cup went for him
This summer’s World Cup in North America was Ronaldo’s sixth, and it gave him one more record. He scored twice in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan in Group K, played in Houston on June 23, and finished the tournament with three goals. That lifted him past the great Eusébio as Portugal’s all-time leading World Cup scorer.
The run ended in the round of 16 on July 6, when Spain won 1-0 thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Mikel Merino. Ronaldo was visibly emotional at the final whistle. He said then that he had given everything and that he would take his time before deciding on his future rather than act in the heat of the moment. Four months later, he has made that decision.
The trophy that got away
For all the records, Ronaldo never won the World Cup with Portugal. His international peak remains the summer of 2016, when Portugal won the European Championship in France, the country’s first major trophy. He added Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
Is Ronaldo retiring from football completely?
No. This decision covers the national team only. Ronaldo is still playing club football in Saudi Arabia, and his contract with Al Nassr runs until 2027. Fans who want to see him play will still be able to watch him in the Saudi Pro League and in Asian club competition.
What happens next for Portugal
Portugal now begin life without the player who has worn the captain’s armband and the number seven shirt for most of the past two decades. The squad is far from short of talent, with players such as Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes at the core of the side, and the focus will now move to building toward Euro 2028.
The bigger question is how the split will be remembered. A suspension and a public dispute with the coach is an awkward final chapter for a player of his stature. His message, though, struck a grateful tone, and Portuguese fans are likely to remember the goals, Euro 2016 and two decades of record-breaking rather than the last few weeks.
The year has already been full of big individual football stories, from Harry Kane winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or to Alexander Zverev reaching world No. 1 in tennis. Ronaldo’s farewell is the end of an era rather than a single headline.
Frequently asked questions
When did Cristiano Ronaldo retire from international football?
He announced it on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in a video posted on his social media accounts.
How many goals did Ronaldo score for Portugal?
146 goals in 234 appearances, both records in men’s international football.
Why did Ronaldo retire from Portugal?
He did not give a single reason in his message. It came after a falling-out with coach Jorge Jesus in October, which led to a 30-day suspension and a 255-euro fine from the Portuguese Football Federation, and after Portugal’s round-of-16 exit at the 2026 World Cup.
Is Ronaldo still playing for Al Nassr?
Yes. He is only retiring from the national team. His Al Nassr contract runs until 2027.
What trophies did Ronaldo win with Portugal?
The European Championship in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025. He never won the World Cup.
Sources: ESPN, Sky Sports, The National, Eastern Eye, Al Jazeera (Reuters), Google Trends.
