Cristiano Ronaldo has brought his Portugal career to a close. In a video posted on Instagram on Thursday, 5 November 2026, the 41-year-old said the day had come "to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team", ending a journey that he said began in August 2003 and lasted 23 years.
He steps away as the leading scorer in the history of men's international football, with a record that few will ever come near.
- Caps and goals: 234 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal, according to UEFA's figures.
- Major titles: he captained Portugal to their first major trophy at Euro 2016 and won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
- Tournaments: six World Cups, the latest in North America this summer, and six European Championships.
- Last match: a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales in Lisbon on 24 September 2026.
- His message: "Portugal will always be in me," he wrote alongside the video.
The Portuguese Football Federation thanked its captain with "deep gratitude and immense admiration" and said a tribute will be held at a later date so supporters can celebrate him. Ronaldo carries on at club level with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where he is closing in on 1,000 career goals, with reports putting his tally at 985.
Source: UEFA, Sky Sports, ESPN, CBS News
