Ronaldo Ends Portugal National Career
The 41-year-old striker steps away from the national team after 23 years, holding records for international goals and appearances.
By Grace Anderson ·
Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday that he will no longer play for the Portugal national team. The 41-year-old forward ends a 23-year international career in which he represented his country in 234 matches.
In a video posted to his Instagram account, Ronaldo stated that the time had come to return the number seven jersey to the Portuguese people. He described the shirt as a privilege and a responsibility he carried for over two decades. He noted that he took the jersey to stadiums around the world.
Ronaldo holds the record for the most goals scored by a male player in international competition. His tally stands at 146 goals. He also holds the record for the most international appearances, having played in 234 games.
His major trophies with the national side include the 2016 European Championship and the UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. He is also the all-time top scorer in European Championship history with 14 goals. Portugal finished fourth at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the furthest advance of his World Cup career.
The announcement followed a disciplinary ruling by the Portuguese Football Federation. The federation's disciplinary council suspended Ronaldo for 30 days and fined him 255 euros. This penalty, the minimum allowed under the rules, resulted from his departure from the national team camp on September 30.
