Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football
Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from the Portugal national team after 23 years and 146 goals, following a falling-out with coach Jorge Jesus.
Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football, ending a 23-year career with Portugal. The 41-year-old forward announced the decision on Thursday in a long video message on social media, saying the time had come to hand back the number 7 shirt.
His international career began in August 2003. The Guardian and Al Jazeera reported that he finished with 234 appearances and 146 goals, and Al Jazeera said he holds the all-time record for both appearances and goals in international football. Onlinekhabar put his appearances at 232, with the same 146 goals. He captained Portugal to the Euro 2016 title, the country’s first major trophy, and Al Jazeera and Ratopati say he helped the team win the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
His last appearance for Portugal was a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales on September 24. Al Jazeera reported that he then spent the whole of the next match, a 2-1 win in Norway on September 27, on the bench. The Guardian and Al Jazeera said coach Jorge Jesus told him he did not plan to start him in the following game, so Ronaldo decided to leave the team’s training camp. Jesus later said Ronaldo would be welcome back and that the decision was up to him.
Outlets describe the punishment that followed differently. Al Jazeera and Ratopati reported that Ronaldo was banned for 30 days and fined, with Ratopati saying this was for leaving the camp without permission. Onlinekhabar also reported a suspension and a fine, but linked them to Ronaldo going straight to the dressing room after the Norway match instead of joining teammates who came onto the pitch to greet supporters in Oslo. According to Al Jazeera and Onlinekhabar, Ronaldo accused Jesus of breaking promises he had made to him.
The Portuguese Football Federation said it felt “deep gratitude and immense admiration” for Ronaldo’s service and that he had inspired generations of young people. It said it intends to organise a tribute at which fans and the country can celebrate him.
Ronaldo will keep playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia and is expected to bring his club career to a close at the end of this season, Al Jazeera reported. It said he is chasing a 1,000th career goal and has scored 985.