Cristiano Ronaldo announces retirement from Portugal national team

Portugal’s all-time leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday that he will retire from international football, ending a 23-year spell with the national team. In a video posted to social media, the 41-year-old said, "To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team. I never felt it belonged to me alone but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world. Today the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision because some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart. A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end." Ronaldo’s debut came in 2003, when he replaced Luís Figo in a friendly against Kazakhstan. Over the next two decades he helped Portugal qualify for every World Cup and European Championship, winning Euro 2016 and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025. He became the first player to score in six World Cups, reached 200 caps and finished with 234 appearances, the most in men’s international soccer, as well as holding the record for most Euro goals (14) and appearances (30). The Portuguese Football Federation said it will organize a tribute to allow fans and the nation to celebrate Ronaldo’s contributions. Ronaldo reflected on his career, stating, "Throughout my entire career with the national team, I always pushed myself beyond my limits. I wanted to win. I wanted to be better. I wanted to make history. I always demanded the most of myself. I always wanted more. I always believed we could go further. And I gave everything I had for this shirt." He also acknowledged the highs and lows of his tenure, noting both memorable victories and painful defeats. Ronaldo’s retirement marks the end of an era for Portuguese football, which had never won a major trophy before his arrival and now looks to the next generation to fill the void left by the iconic forward.