Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, ending a historic 23-year association with Portugal during which he established himself as the country's greatest goalscorer and most-capped player.
The 41-year-old made the announcement on Thursday through an emotional post on his official Instagram account, saying he was ready to relinquish Portugal's iconic number seven jersey and allow the next generation to take over.
Ronaldo, who made his international debut in August 2003, described the decision as difficult, noting that representing his country had been one of the defining experiences of his life.
“The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” he wrote.
He added that although the shirt had never belonged exclusively to him, he had spent more than two decades carrying the responsibility and honour of wearing it across football stadiums 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 former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward said.
Reflecting on his international career, Ronaldo said his most enduring memories were not limited to the goals, records and silverware he accumulated, but also included the millions of supporters who stood behind him and the national team.
He particularly acknowledged Portuguese communities living abroad, saying football had provided them with a sense of connection to their homeland.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also recalled the sacrifices and personal demands that accompanied his efforts to achieve success with Portugal.
“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.
While admitting that his career had included painful defeats and moments when he failed to meet supporters' expectations, Ronaldo maintained that his commitment to the national team never wavered.
“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 said.
Ronaldo retires as the leading goalscorer in men's international football, having scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, according to UEFA figures updated in October 2026.
He also holds the record for the highest number of appearances in men's international football, surpassing Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa.
His remarkable achievements include becoming the first footballer to score at six different FIFA World Cup tournaments in 2026.
Ronaldo's journey with Portugal began on August 20, 2003, against Kazakhstan. A year later, he featured at Euro 2004, where the hosts reached the final but suffered a disappointing defeat to Greece.
He eventually fulfilled his ambition of winning a major international trophy when he captained Portugal to victory at Euro 2016. Although he was forced off with an injury during the final against France, his teammates secured a 1-0 victory after extra time.
Portugal subsequently won the UEFA Nations League in 2019, becoming champions of the competition's inaugural edition, before lifting the trophy again in 2025.
His international retirement brings to a close one of the most successful individual careers in the history of the game.
At club level, Ronaldo won five UEFA Champions League titles and collected five Ballon d’Or awards while representing some of Europe's biggest teams, including Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
He also won domestic league championships in England, Spain and Italy.
During his nine-year spell at Real Madrid, he became the club's all-time leading goalscorer, leaving behind a remarkable scoring record that further strengthened his legacy in world football.
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