A farewell to Portugal
November 5, 2026 · 10:10 p.m. Central / November 6, 4:10 a.m. in Lisbon
Cristiano Ronaldo announced Thursday that he is retiring from Portugal’s national soccer team, ending an international career that spanned 23 years and produced the men’s records for appearances and goals.
In a video message on social media, the 41-year-old forward said it was time to hand back Portugal’s No. 7 shirt, according to The Associated Press and EFE. He finishes with 146 goals in 234 appearances for his country.
The announcement concerns international soccer. Ronaldo is expected to continue playing for his Saudi Arabian club, Al-Nassr, AP reported; he has not announced an immediate retirement from all soccer.
The final months
Ronaldo’s last Portugal appearance was a 1–0 win over Wales on September 24, AP reported. His departure followed a disagreement with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus and his exit from a national-team camp, according to AP and EFE.
EFE reported that the Portuguese federation’s disciplinary council imposed a 30-day suspension and a fine after he left the camp. Ronaldo’s farewell message did not establish the dispute as the sole reason for his decision.
Ronaldo has also pursued 1,000 career goals for club and country. AP counted 985 at the time of the announcement; that total can change as he continues playing for Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo’s message
Ronaldo shared his farewell video on X as well as Instagram.
Open the original post if the embed does not load.
