Ronaldo Announces International Retirement from Portugal

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo officially announced his retirement from international football with the Portugal national team, following a period of tension and disagreements with head coach Jorge Jesus and his sudden departure from the team’s training camp.

Ronaldo left Portugal’s camp in Copenhagen for Madrid amid a dispute over his benching and lack of playing time in matches.

Ronaldo had previously hinted at the possibility of retiring from international duty after Portugal’s campaign in the 2026 World Cup, but temporarily retracted that idea at the request of the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, before the official announcement of his retirement.

Ronaldo posted a video message on his official Instagram account announcing his international retirement. In the video, he said, “Today, my journey with the national team comes to an end. Today I return the number 7 shirt of our national team to everyone. I am putting an end to a career that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever. It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made by the mind alone, but also by the heart.”

The 41-year-old striker, who began his international career in 2003 and now plays for Saudi club Al Nassr, has made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals.

At his last major tournament, the 2026 World Cup in North America, the native of Madeira Island became the first player in history to score in six different World Cup editions. However, the tournament ended in disappointment for Portugal, as they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Spain (1-0), who went on to win the title.