BREAKING: Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From International Football

• Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, saying he will hand back Portugal’s No. 7 shirt after the November international break.

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his intention to retire from international football, bringing his record-breaking career with Portugal towards its conclusion.

The 41-year-old disclosed his decision in a social media message on Thursday, November 5, saying he would relinquish the national team’s No. 7 shirt after the November international break.

The announcement concerns his Portugal career and does not announce his retirement from club football.

Ronaldo has made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals, holding the men’s international records for both appearances and goals. Those figures represent his tally at the time of the announcement.

In his farewell message, Ronaldo reflected on the moment of stepping away from the national side.

“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team,” he said.

His decision closes a chapter spanning more than two decades and six World Cup tournaments, during which he became the defining figure of Portuguese international football.

Ronaldo captained Portugal to their first major international trophy at the 2016 European Championship. He also helped the country win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.

Those successes accompanied an extraordinary scoring record that established him as the most prolific player in men’s international football.

“Portugal will always be a part of me,” he wrote alongside the announcement video.

His stated farewell timeline points to the November international window, although the initial announcement reports did not confirm a specific final appearance.