Ronaldo retires from Portugal national team

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has announced his retirement from international football with Portugal, ending a career that began in August 2003. He announced the decision on social media on Thursday, 5 November 2026, and will hand back his number 7 shirt. He made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals, and he is the team's record appearance maker and leading scorer. The decision follows Lionel Messi's retirement from Argentina earlier in the year. He had fallen out with national coach Jorge Jesus and was suspended for 30 days and fined €255 after leaving the camp during the last international break.