The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) is making plans to give Cristiano Ronaldo a special farewell following the announcement of his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a 23-year career with the national team.
The federation announced its intention to honour the legendary forward on Thursday, paying tribute to his immense contribution to Portuguese football and assuring him that he would always be welcome in the national team setup.
In a message posted on its official X handle, the FPF described Portugal as Ronaldo's permanent home, saying: “This will always be your home.”
The gesture is expected to celebrate a career that saw the 41-year-old become Portugal's most-capped player and leading goalscorer, while establishing himself as one of the most influential figures in the history of international football.
Ronaldo retired with 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal, records that also earned recognition from Guinness World Records.
The global record-keeping organisation joined the tributes on Thursday, highlighting his achievements in men's international football.
“Cristiano Ronaldo officially retires from international football. He retires with the most caps in international football (234) and the most goals in international football (146),” Guinness World Records said in a post on X.
Ronaldo confirmed his decision in an emotional video shared on social media, announcing that he was ready to hand over Portugal's famous number seven shirt to the next generation.
“The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” he said.
He added that wearing the shirt for 23 years had been both a privilege and a responsibility, stressing that it had never belonged to him alone.
“I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and 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,” the forward said.
Ronaldo made his international debut in August 2003 and went on to become the face of Portuguese football, captaining the country to its first major international trophy at the 2016 European Championship.
Portugal defeated France 1-0 after extra time in the final, despite Ronaldo leaving the pitch injured in the first half.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star also captained Portugal to victory in the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019 and was part of the team that won the competition again in 2025.
His international career spanned different generations of Portuguese footballers, with his goalscoring consistency and leadership helping the national team achieve unprecedented success.
His retirement announcement followed weeks of speculation about his future with the national team after reports of tensions involving Portugal coach Jorge Jesus.
The Al-Nassr striker reportedly left the national team camp in September after being left out of the starting line-up, prompting speculation about a possible disagreement with the coach and potential disciplinary consequences.
However, in an October statement, Ronaldo dismissed reports that he was considering retirement at the time, maintaining that he remained available for international duty as long as he was physically fit.
His Thursday announcement has now ended the uncertainty, with his last appearance for Portugal coming in the team's 1-0 Nations League victory over Wales on September 24.
Although he will no longer feature for Portugal, Ronaldo is expected to continue his club career with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner also remains determined to reach 1,000 official career goals. He had scored 985, according to figures cited in the latest account of his career.
The FPF's proposed farewell will offer Portugal an opportunity to formally celebrate a player whose achievements extend beyond individual records.
From his emergence as a promising youngster in 2003 to becoming the country's most successful international goalscorer and leading it to major silverware, Ronaldo has enjoyed a career that has left a lasting imprint on Portuguese football.
While his departure closes a significant chapter in the national team's history, the federation's message makes clear that his connection with Portugal will endure long after his final international appearance.
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