Cristiano Ronaldo announces retirement from international football
Portugal's record goalscorer ends a national team career of more than 20 years, after an emotional video message to fans.
Key facts
Story- Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from playing for the Portugal national team.
- He announced the decision in an emotional video message to the Portuguese people.
- Ronaldo holds a record 146 international goals and helped Portugal win Euro 2016.
Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football, ending his career with the Portugal national team. He announced the decision on 5 November 2026 in an emotional video message to the Portuguese people.
Ronaldo's 23-year career included six World Cups. He holds the national team record with 146 international goals. Ronaldo said that "the time has come". The full text of his speech was published alongside the announcement.
The retirement closes a long career that began before Euro 2004. Ronaldo walked out on the national team after a falling out with coach Jorge Jesus. The details of that dispute have not been given, and it is not yet known how the Portuguese football federation handled the split.
Among his major honours are Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League title. Those trophies came during his long spell as the team's leading figure.
It is not yet known whether Ronaldo will continue to play club football, or whether Portugal has named a plan for replacing him in the squad. Neither the federation nor the coach has responded so far.
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