Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international soccer, concluding a storied career that began more than two decades ago. The 41-year-old forward confirmed his decision in a social media video message on Thursday.
Ronaldo's international career, which started before Euro 2004, saw him amass the men's all-time international scoring record and win the European Championship in 2016. His final appearance for Portugal was on September 24, a 1-0 win against Wales in the Nations League.
"To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo said in his message. “I never felt it belonged to me alone but for 23 years I had the privilege and the 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. A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end."
While Ronaldo will continue to play at club level, he is expected to finish his season with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. He is currently pursuing his 1,000th career goal, having scored 985 so far, with a record 146 of those coming in 234 appearances for Portugal.
The Portuguese soccer federation released a statement expressing gratitude and admiration for Ronaldo's service. "Cristiano Ronaldo has raised Portugal’s profile and inspired generations of young people who dream of following in his footsteps; for many of us, he is the greatest player of all time!" the federation stated, adding that it intends to organize a tribute.
Before Ronaldo's debut in 2003, Portugal had not won any major trophies. Under his tenure, the team secured its first major title at Euro 2016 and won the Nations League in 2019 and 2025. Ronaldo was the first man to score in six World Cups and holds the record for most men's international appearances with 234.
His final message concluded with, "I spent my life working to become the best player in the world. Today I realise that my greatest victory was earning the honor of representing the best country in the world. Thank you for these 23 years. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for allowing me to live a dream that began when I was just a little boy in Madeira, running after a football. The No. 7 shirt will remain. The pride of having worn it will be mine forever."