Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football, ending his remarkable 23-year journey with Portugal. He first played for the national team at 18, and over two decades, he helped turn Portugal from a team that was often close to winning into a champion nation.
During his time as captain, Ronaldo led Portugal to its biggest achievements in football. They won the European Championship, the UEFA Nations League, and were runners-up in another European Championship. He also helped them secure third place in the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Ronaldo’s international career numbers are unmatched in men’s football. He has scored 146 goals, the most ever by a male international player. He also holds the record for the most international appearances, with 234 caps. In European Championship tournaments alone, he scored 14 goals, the most by any player. He’s the only player to have competed in six different Euro final tournaments (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024). Additionally, he’s the first player in history to score in five separate World Cup tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022). He also has the most international hat-tricks for a male player, with 10.
In a video message announcing his retirement, Ronaldo symbolically gave up his iconic No. 7 jersey.
“To the Portuguese people: The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team… Today, the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision, but a journey that began in August 2003 has come to an end.”
His departure marks the end of one of the most incredible individual careers in international sports. Ronaldo has set an incredibly high bar for commitment and performance, permanently changing Portuguese football.
