Cristiano Ronaldo retired from international football on November 5, 2026, ending a 23-year Portugal career with 234 caps and 146 goals, both records in men's international football. He announced it in a video on Instagram, saying it was time to "hand back the number 7 shirt". He keeps playing club football for Al Nassr.[1][2]
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| Cover photo: Ludovic Péron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. The cover image is shared under the same licence (CC BY-SA 3.0). | |
| Announced | November 5, 2026, by video on Instagram |
|---|---|
| Team | Portugal men's national team |
| International career | August 20, 2003 to September 24, 2026 |
| Caps | 234 (men's world record) |
| Goals | 146 (men's world record) |
| Major tournaments | 12 (6 World Cups, 6 European Championships) |
| Trophies | Euro 2016; Nations League 2019, 2025 |
| Club | Al Nassr (Saudi Pro League), continuing |
| Status | Retired from international football |
The decision came about six weeks after a public falling-out with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus. His last match for Portugal was on September 24, 2026.[1][3]
Announcement
Ronaldo posted a video of almost five minutes addressed "to the Portuguese people". In it he said: "Today, my journey on the pitch with the National Team comes to an end," and "I will never stop being one of you." The post was captioned "Portugal will always be in me."[1][2]
Why now
The retirement followed a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus during the September international window. According to Sky Sports, Ronaldo was left on the bench for a 2-1 win over Norway and then left the squad's camp before the match against Denmark, saying Jesus had broken his word. Jesus denied making any such agreement. The two had not spoken since September 30.[2]
Ronaldo apologised for leaving the camp and accepted a 30-day suspension, backdated to October 1, plus a small fine (reported as 255 euros). He served most of the ban without missing an official Portugal match.[1][2]
Career in numbers
| Statistic | Figure |
|---|---|
| Caps | 234 |
| Goals | 146 (0.62 per match) |
| Competitive goals | 124 |
| Debut | August 20, 2003, as a substitute against Kazakhstan |
| First goal | Against Greece at Euro 2004 |
| Hat-tricks | 10 (two of them four-goal games) |
| Penalties scored | 22 |
| Opponents scored against | 49 nations (most: Luxembourg, 11 goals) |
| Best calendar year | 2019: 14 goals in 10 matches |
Figures from Outlook India and The Tribune (ANI), published November 5, 2026.[1][3]
Goals by competition
| Competition | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| World Cup finals | 27 | 11 |
| European Championship finals | 30 | 14 |
| Nations League | n/a | 15 |
| Euro qualifying | n/a | 41 (reported) |
| World Cup qualifying | n/a | 41 (reported) |
The qualifying figures appear in both sources as 41 each. We have not found an independent breakdown to confirm them, so treat them as reported.
Records
- Most goals in men's international football (146) and most caps (234).
- First player to score at six World Cups: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026.
- Most goals (14) and most appearances (30) at European Championship finals.
- Most international hat-tricks (10).
- Portugal's top scorer by a distance; Pauleta is next with 47. Luís Figo had held the caps record with 127.
Honours
With Portugal he won the European Championship in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025. The World Cup is the one major trophy he did not win. At the 2026 World Cup, Portugal were knocked out in the round of 16 by Spain, who went on to win the tournament.[2][3]
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 20, 2003 | Debut against Kazakhstan |
| June 2004 | First international goal, against Greece at Euro 2004 |
| July 2016 | Wins Euro 2016 |
| June 2019 | Wins first Nations League |
| 2025 | Wins second Nations League |
| Summer 2026 | Scores at a sixth World Cup; Portugal out to Spain in round of 16 |
| September 2026 | Benched against Norway, leaves camp before Denmark match |
| September 24, 2026 | Last match for Portugal |
| October 1, 2026 | 30-day suspension begins (backdated) |
| November 5, 2026 | Announces international retirement |
What happens next
Portugal top their Nations League group with a perfect record. They host Denmark on Saturday, November 14, and play Wales in Cardiff on November 17, their first matches of the post-Ronaldo era.[2] The Portuguese federation said it would pay tribute to him at a later date.
At club level he continues with Al Nassr. He has 985 official senior goals for club and country in 1,343 matches, 15 short of 1,000, a milestone now to be reached with club goals only.[1]
Frequently asked questions
Has Cristiano Ronaldo retired?
From international football, yes, as of November 5, 2026. He has not retired from club football.
How many international goals did Ronaldo score?
146 goals in 234 matches for Portugal.
What international trophies did Ronaldo win?
Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
Why did Ronaldo retire from Portugal?
He did not give a detailed reason in his video. It came after a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus in September 2026, which led to a 30-day suspension.
Who has the most international goals after Ronaldo?
Among men, Ali Daei of Iran is second with 108 goals, and Lionel Messi has also passed 100.
References
- "23 years, 234 caps, 146 goals: Cristiano Ronaldo brings curtain down on international career for Portugal". The Tribune (ANI). November 5, 2026.
- "Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football after glittering Portugal career that spanned 23 years". Sky Sports. November 5, 2026.
- "Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal Career In Numbers: Goals, Caps And Records". Outlook India. November 5, 2026.
- "Cristiano Ronaldo announces retirement from Portugal national team with emotional farewell video". Yahoo Sports. November 5, 2026.
Image credits: Cover photo: Ludovic Péron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. The cover image is shared under the same licence (CC BY-SA 3.0).