The world of football is witnessing the end of an era: Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his departure from international football. This outstanding athlete, who is now 41 years old, represented Portugal for 23 years, and will no longer play for his country.
Throughout his career for Portugal, Ronaldo scored 146 goals in 234 matches. He is the player with the most goals and most appearances in men's international football. He played a key role in Portugal winning the European Championship title in 2016. After an international break in November, Ronaldo will say goodbye to the national number 7 jersey.
Ronaldo debuted for Portugal in 2003, when he was only an 18-year-old player. He soon became one of the most important players for the team, and later its captain. Many records were set during his career that are extremely difficult for any other athlete to break.
He played 234 games for Portugal, scoring 146 goals, and remains the record holder for goals in men's international football. His resume also includes a record of six World Cup participations. He represented Portugal at the FIFA World Cups in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026.
Among the main achievements of his career is the victory at the 2016 European Championship. In the final of this tournament, held in France, Portugal became a European champion for the first time, defeating the hosts 1-0. Although Ronaldo could not play the entire match due to injury, his contribution as captain was extremely important. Following this, Portugal also won the UEFA Nations League title in 2019 and 2025.
Ronaldo announced his decision through an emotional video message on social media. He mentioned the Portuguese number 7 jersey, stating that it was time to return it. According to Ronaldo, wearing this jersey for 23 years was a matter of pride and responsibility for him. He emphasized that he never considered this jersey solely his; it is a symbol of Portugal and its people. Representing the country for such a long time was a special honor for him.
In his message, he noted that it was time to pass this responsibility to the next generation. Ronaldo also assured that Portugal would always remain in his heart. Despite his international career coming to an end, his journey in club football will continue. He currently plays for the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo's decision comes amid reports of disagreements between him and the head coach of Portugal, Jorge Jesus. The conflict began during the Nations League match against Norway. In the game held on September 27th in Oslo, Portugal won 2-1, but Ronaldo was not given the opportunity to play for the entire match.
After the game, Ronaldo went directly to the locker room without stopping on the field to greet the fans with his teammates. He then left the Portuguese training camp. This incident sparked active speculation regarding his future with the national team.
After leaving the training camp, Ronaldo published a statement of about 2000 words expressing his dissatisfaction. He claimed that coach Jorge Jesus had promised to field him as a substitute in the match against Norway. Based on this trust, he started warming up, but the coach later changed his mind. Ronaldo perceived this as a breach of trust. He also stated that the coach's words in private conversations differed from his position at the press conference.
Nevertheless, Jorge Jesus responded to this dispute, stating that he had developed a plan for Ronaldo, which the player accepted. He admitted that his mistake was not fielding Ronaldo after the warm-up before the match against Norway. Subsequently, the Portuguese Football Federation applied disciplinary measures against Ronaldo. He was suspended for 30 days and fined. Ronaldo apologized to the fans for his behavior and agreed to accept the punishment.
Leaving international football does not mean Ronaldo stops playing. He will continue to play in club football for Al-Nassr. One of his big goals is to score 1000 goals in his career. The era of Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is considered one of the most discussed in football history. The records set by Ronaldo in his international career will be discussed for a long time. Replacing him in the Portugal national team will now be difficult. CR7 decided to say goodbye to the national team with 146 goals, 234 matches, and many major trophies.
