Ronaldo retires from international football after 23 years

Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football on Thursday, closing a Portugal career of 234 appearances and 146 goals, both records, weeks after a public falling-out with head coach Jorge Jesus.

The 41-year-old delivered the news in a video titled "Portugal will always be a part of me", in which he read a letter to supporters.

"The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team," he said in the letter.

"I never thought it belonged to me alone. But for 23 years, I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it," he continued.

Ronaldo gave no reason for the decision. "It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not made only with the head. They are also made with the heart," he explained.

"If I ever made you happy, if one of my goals ever made you hug someone, forget a worry or feel proud of our country, then it was all worth it," the forward told supporters.

Elsewhere in the statement he admitted that he had at times failed, though he said he felt proud of his work.

The Portuguese Football Federation said on Thursday that it "refuses to let this farewell take place without due tribute".

"It is our firm and immense desire to organize, plan, participate, and actively collaborate in what will always be a fitting tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo's immense career, in which fans and the country can applaud and celebrate, once again, the player who has given us so much," it added.

Ronaldo made his debut on 20 August 2003, aged 18 years and six months. He went on to lift the 2016 European Championship and help Portugal win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.

At this summer's World Cup in North America he scored three goals, becoming the first player to play and score at six consecutive tournaments. He is also the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout match, at 41 years and 147 days.

Portugal went out in the round of 16, and Ronaldo hinted afterwards that it was his last tournament. "I'm sad to be leaving the World Cup like this," he said. "I gave it my all. I did my best, and I'm leaving with a clear conscience. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I'll now have time to reflect and be with my family."

The rift with Jesus surfaced on 30 September, when Ronaldo left Portugal's training camp in Copenhagen ahead of a UEFA Nations League fixture against Denmark. He walked out shortly after Jesus confirmed at a news conference that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner would miss the starting line-up for a second consecutive Nations League match.

"Following the national team manager's press conference, and after a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team's training camp," Ronaldo wrote on Instagram.

He had spent the whole of a 2-1 Nations League win away to Norway on 27 September on the bench, three days after captaining a 1-0 home victory over Wales. It was the first time since November 2024 that he had not featured for Portugal despite being neither injured nor suspended.

In a later statement, Ronaldo accused Jesus of twice breaking his word. He said the coach had agreed that he would miss the Norway and Denmark matches to manage his fitness, then told him on the day of the Norway game that he would play for 30 minutes.

"Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from half-time onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn't called on," he said.

"It was the second time he had broken his word to me," Ronaldo said. "I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises."

He added that he did not need an apology from Jesus, but that the coach's public remarks bore no resemblance to their private discussion. Ronaldo also said he remained available for selection after any punishment.

Jesus, who also coached Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, had indicated the forward could return. "If he wants to, he'll return to the national team. We can talk before the next call-up, but Cris is the one who's going to decide," he said.

"He's the one who should decide how he wants to end his time with the national team. In my first call-up, I said, 'I need you, I need you to be close to me, playing or not playing, I need you'. And now I'm saying the same thing," Jesus continued.

Ronaldo will carry on at Al-Nassr, where he is on 985 career goals and closing in on 1,000.

He hopes to pass the baton to his son, 16-year-old Cristiano Junior, who was called up to Portugal's Under-17s this week.

The federation is now preparing to announce its squad for the Nations League fixtures against Denmark and Wales later this month.