Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to his remarkable 23-year career with the Portugal national team.
The 41-year-old forward made the announcement earlier, Thursday, through a five-minute video shared across his social media platforms, confirming that he would no longer represent his country.
Ronaldo leaves international football with an extraordinary record of 234 appearances and 146 goals, making him the most-capped player and highest goal scorer in men’s international football history.
During his illustrious spell with Portugal, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward won three major international trophies, cementing his place among the greatest footballers ever to represent their countries.
Following the announcement, fans across the world flooded his social media accounts with emotional messages, celebrating his achievements and the memories he created throughout his international career.
Several prominent figures in football also joined the tributes, including Ronaldo’s former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand, who reacted to his Instagram post by writing, “It was a movie bro.”
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, who currently wears the iconic No. 7 shirt previously made famous by Ronaldo at the Spanish club, also paid tribute to the Portuguese legend; he wrote, “Forever number 1.”
Manchester United, where Ronaldo enjoyed two spells during his club career, also acknowledged the forward’s remarkable contributions to Portuguese football and congratulated him on his international achievements.
Portugal teammate Diogo Dalot expressed his appreciation for the influence Ronaldo had on the national team, writing, “You made us dream, you made us believe, and you made us WIN! Thank you, idol.”
Another Portugal teammate, Bruno Fernandes, described sharing the national team dressing room with Ronaldo as a special privilege, recalling how he grew up admiring the legendary forward.
“Thank you for the inspiration. It was a privilege to be able to share great moments for our selection with my childhood idol.”
Sporting CP, the club where Ronaldo began his professional football journey before moving to Manchester United, also recognised his contributions to the Portuguese national team, the club said, “Thank you for everything you did for our nation. Forever in Portugal’s history.”
Ronaldo’s retirement brings the curtain down on one of the most successful international careers in football history. He made his Portugal debut in 2003 and went on to become the face of the national team for more than two decades.
His final appearance for Portugal came in a 1-0 victory over Wales in the UEFA Nations League, while his last international goal was scored against Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
His international journey had also experienced difficult moments, including disciplinary action after he reportedly left Portugal’s training camp ahead of a match against Denmark, resulting in a suspension.
Before announcing his retirement, Ronaldo had issued a statement indicating his willingness to continue playing for Portugal under head coach Jorge Jesus. However, he has now reversed that position, officially bringing his international career to an end.
Despite his departure from the national team, Ronaldo’s achievements, records and influence will remain an important part of Portugal’s football history.
Portugal: How Bruno Fernandes, Vinicius Junior, Dalot, others reacted to Ronaldo’s retirement
Portugal: How Bruno Fernandes, Vinicius Junior, Dalot, others reacted to Ronaldo’s retirement
