Newsroom
Cristiano Ronaldo is getting ready to hand back Portugal’s No. 7 shirt. The 41-year-old forward announced Thursday that he will retire from international football after the November break, ending a 23-year run with the national team that took him to six World Cups and brought Portugal its first major trophy.
Ronaldo made his senior debut in 2003 and has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances, both records in men’s international football. He captained Portugal to the European Championship title in 2016 and helped the team win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025. The World Cup remained out of reach. Portugal lost 1-0 to eventual champion Spain in the round of 16 this year.
“Portugal will always be a part of me,” Ronaldo wrote alongside his announcement video, in which he thanked supporters, teammates, and coaches. Portugal hosts Denmark on Nov. 14 before visiting Wales three days later. Those are his last opportunities to add to his record if he is selected. He continues to play club football for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr.
For fans in Cyprus, there’s a local memory from his club career. In November 2017, Ronaldo scored twice in five minutes at Nicosia’s GSP Stadium as Real Madrid beat APOEL 6-0 in the Champions League.
