Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football after 23-year career

Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to his 23-year career with the national team.

Ronaldo, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time alongside Argentine star Lionel Messi, announced his decision in a video shared on his social media pages.

The 41-year-old striker, whose number 7 shirt has become an iconic symbol in world football, said: “The day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team.”

His announcement comes amid reported tensions involving his national team setup, which reportedly led to his abrupt departure from the training camp.

During his time with Portugal, Ronaldo won the European Championship and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.

He made a record 234 appearances for his country, scoring a record 146 international goals.