Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football. On Thursday 5 November 2026, he told the world he is done with Portugal after 23 years, 234 caps and 146 goals. The man who walked on as an 18-year-old in 2003 is leaving as the most capped and highest-scoring male player the game has seen.
The Announcement
Ronaldo shared a video of about five minutes on Instagram and X. It was titled "Portugal will always be a part of me" and came with a statement of 856 words. He said he will hand back the number 7 shirt after the November break.
Sky reported that Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) president Pedro Proença had talked him out of an earlier retirement statement on the flight back from North America. The FPF called him its "eternal captain" and said a tribute will follow later. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro also thanked him.
Ronaldo's Portugal Career in Numbers
| Record | Number |
|---|---|
| Caps | 234 |
| Goals | 146 |
| Hat-tricks | 10 |
| World Cup goals | 11 in 27 games |
| Euro goals | 14 |
| World Cup qualifying goals | 41 |
| Euro qualifying goals | 41 |
| Assists | 45 |
| Goals vs Luxembourg | 11 |
| Competitive goals | 124 of 146 |
| Career span | 23 years, 35 days |
Two of his ten hat-tricks were four-goal games. He scored in 23 straight calendar years for his country. He was the first European player to reach 100 international goals.
Six World Cups, five Euros. Ronaldo is the first player to score at six World Cups and the only one to score at five European Championships.
From Kazakhstan to Euro 2016
He made his debut on 20 August 2003 against Kazakhstan, a 1-0 win. He was 18 and came on at half-time for Luís Figo. His first goal followed on 12 June 2004 against Greece at Euro 2004, though Portugal lost that game 1-2.
He became captain in July 2008 and took the number 7 shirt the same year. The biggest night came at Euro 2016. Portugal beat France 1-0 after extra time, with Eder scoring in the 109th minute. Ronaldo had gone off injured around the 25th minute.
The Nations League gave him two more medals. Portugal won it in 2019 and again in 2025, when they beat Spain 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in Munich. That makes three major trophies with Portugal.
Captain, Record Breaker, Face of an Era
Ronaldo was Portugal's captain from 2008 until the end and kept scoring into his forties. At 41 years and 231 days on his last cap, he became the oldest man ever to play for Portugal.
His exit also sits next to Lionel Messi's. Messi announced his own retirement on 31 August 2026, after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain, and played his last match on 6 October.
| Player | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 234 | 146 |
| Lionel Messi | 208 | 126 |
The Final Year
The last year was not a quiet one. At the 2026 World Cup, Portugal finished second in Group K. In the round of 32 they beat Croatia 2-1, and Ronaldo scored a penalty in the 68th minute. It was his first World Cup knockout goal. It also made him the oldest player ever to score in a World Cup knockout match. Portugal then lost 0-1 to Spain in the last 16 through a stoppage-time goal from Merino.
Roberto Martínez left after that defeat. Jorge Jesus, 71, took over on a four-year deal to 2030. Ronaldo played his last cap in a 1-0 win over Wales on 24 September.
Three days later in Oslo, he was an unused substitute in Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway, for the first time in 18 years. On 30 September he left the camp. He wrote a long letter that spoke of a "breach of trust" and apologised to his teammates, but not to the coach. Portugal still won 4-2 in Denmark on 1 October. The FPF gave him a 30-day suspension and a €255 fine. Portugal beat Norway 2-1 in Porto on 4 October without him.
A messy end to a great story. The September row will be part of how this exit is remembered, but it does not change the numbers above.
What Happens Next
Ronaldo is not finished with football. He stays at Al-Nassr and has 985 career goals as of 4 November 2026, which leaves him 15 short of 1,000.
| Team | Goals |
|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 450 |
| Manchester United | 145 |
| Al-Nassr | 138 |
| Juventus | 101 |
| Sporting | 5 |
| Portugal | 146 |
6 November: Jesus names the Portugal squad (12:00 Portugal time).
14 November: Portugal host Denmark in Braga (20:45 CET).
17 November: Portugal visit Wales in Cardiff.
Later: the FPF tribute to Ronaldo, with details to be announced.
Portugal already have 12 points from 4 games and have qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals.
Stump Mic
Records get broken, but 23 years of showing up for your country rarely will. Ronaldo gave Portugal goals, a captain's armband and a European crown. The shirt goes back, but the numbers stay.
Key Takeaways
- Ronaldo announced his Portugal retirement on 5 November 2026
- He ends with 234 caps and 146 goals, both international records
- He won Euro 2016 and two Nations Leagues, three major trophies
- He scored at six World Cups and five Euros
- He stays at Al-Nassr, 15 goals short of 1,000 career goals