Cristiano Ronaldo ends 23-year Portugal career
The 41-year-old forward will hand over the Portugal shirt after the next international break.
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Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday that he is ending his international career with Portugal. His departure brings an end to a 23-year international career, with 234 appearances and 146 goals.
Ronaldo announced his decision in a video message on social media. He said he would give back Portugal’s number 7 shirt after the November international break. This brings to an end an international career that began in August 2003.
According to The Guardian, Ronaldo made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals. The Guardian therefore calls him the record goalscorer in men’s international football and reports that he played at six World Cups and won the 2016 European Championship with Portugal.
Ronaldo was also involved in Portugal’s Nations League victories in 2019 and 2025. According to Reuters, his most recent appearance for the national team was on 24 September, in a match against Wales. Reuters says a dispute with head coach Jorge Jesus over his role in the team arose afterwards.
Jesus left Ronaldo on the bench for the next match and said he would not select him automatically. The news agency reports that Ronaldo subsequently left the training camp. The head coach later said that the forward remained welcome, but Ronaldo has now decided to end his international career.
The Portuguese football federation responded with gratitude and admiration for his contribution. The federation writes that Ronaldo has strengthened Portugal’s profile and inspired generations of young footballers. Those descriptions are the federation’s response, not an independent assessment of his sporting significance.
Ronaldo will remain active as a club footballer, but his departure changes Portugal’s position ahead of future internationals and tournaments. After his departure, the national team will continue without him.
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Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The main sporting facts have been confirmed by The Guardian/AP and Reuters. The article distinguishes the factual account of his career from the Portuguese football federation’s words of praise.
- confirmed Ronaldo is ending his international career with Portugal. — Ronaldo announced this in a video message, as reported by Reuters and The Guardian/AP. source
- confirmed Ronaldo made 234 international appearances and scored 146 goals. — Reported by The Guardian/AP. source
- confirmed He won the 2016 European Championship and the 2019 and 2025 Nations League with Portugal. — Reported in the Reuters summary. source
Editor's note
Ronaldo’s announced departure, his numbers of international appearances and goals, and the response from the Portuguese football federation have been confirmed by independent reporting. His precise future club plans fall outside this report.Sources
- Cristiano Ronaldo calls time on Portugal career after 234 caps and 146 goals — The Guardian / Associated Press
- Soccer-Cristiano Ronaldo announces retirement from Portugal national team — Reuters
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „cristiano ronaldo”
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- De Telegraaf — „cristiano ronaldo”