Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from Portugal's national team on Thursday via social media post, ending a 23-year international career. The 41-year-old said he will "hand back the number 7 shirt" and called the decision difficult, saying it involved both head and heart.
Ronaldo made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals, holding records for both international appearances and goals. He captained Portugal to victory at Euro 2016 and won the Nations League with them in 2019 and 2025.
His final match for Portugal was a 1-0 win over Wales on September 24 in the Nations League. Coach Jorge Jesus kept him on the bench for the next match and indicated he would not start Ronaldo in upcoming games. Ronaldo left the team's training camp after that decision, and Jesus later said Ronaldo would be welcome to return.
In a statement, the Portuguese football federation expressed "deep gratitude and immense admiration" for Ronaldo's service and said it plans to organize a tribute for him. The federation called him "the greatest player of all time."
Ronaldo will continue playing at club level for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he is pursuing his 1,000th career goal. He has currently scored 985.