Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football
After 23 years and a record 146 goals, the 41-year-old is done playing for Portugal — but he isn't leaving Al-Nassr.
- 234 matches for Portugal
- 146 international goals
- 985 career goals
What happened
Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday, in a video message, that he is retiring from international football. He called it “not an easy decision”.
He leaves after 234 matches for Portugal and 146 goals — the most in the team's history. He is also the only player to score at six different World Cups.
Why now
Portugal went out in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup this summer, where Ronaldo scored three goals in five games. Reports say tensions with head coach Jorge Jesus had been building, and Ronaldo left the squad suddenly about five weeks ago.
What's next
He is not retiring from football completely. Ronaldo will keep playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where his contract runs until June 2027. He is on 985 career goals — and chasing 1,000.
