Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From Portugal After 23-Year International Career
Ronaldo ends his international career with world-record totals of 234 caps and 146 goals after a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus.
- On Thursday, November 5, 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football, ending a 23-year career with 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal.
- Head coach Jorge Jesus benched the 41-year-old during a Nations League match against Norway, prompting Ronaldo to leave the national team's training camp in September.
- Following his unauthorized departure, the Portuguese Football Federation issued a 30-day suspension and a 255 euro fine; Ronaldo confirmed he would 'hand back the number 7 shirt.'
- The Portuguese Football Federation expressed 'deep gratitude and immense admiration,' announcing plans to organize a tribute celebrating the player who led Portugal to Euro 2016 and Nations League titles.
- Ronaldo will continue playing for Saudi club Al-Nassr, where he pursues a 1,000 career goal milestone sitting at 985 goals as the season concludes.
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The announcement, made on their social networks, ends a trajectory that began on August 20, 2003 in front of Kazakhstan.
Dagens Nyheter.
After 23 years, 146 goals and a European Championship gold medal, Cristiano Ronaldo is retiring. In a video on Instagram, the 41-year-old says that his Portuguese national team career is over. – The day has come for me to give back the number 7 shirt, he says.
Following a crisis with coach Jorge Jesus, Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the training camp on his private jet and received a penalty from the federation, officially ended his 23-year career with the Portuguese National Team, during which he played 234 matches and scored 146 goals.
At the end of September, the Portuguese star had slammed the door to a rally with the selection. A month later, he announced that he would end his international career.
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