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Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, concluding a historic 23-year career. The 41-year-old icon leaves the national team as the all-time leader in both international appearances and goals, having represented Portugal 234 times and scored 146 goals.
A Career of Milestones
Ronaldo’s international journey began at age 18 during a friendly match against Kazakhstan, where he entered the pitch as a half-time substitute for Luis Figo. At the time, he wore the number 17 jersey, as Figo held the number 7. It was not until Figo’s retirement in 2006 that Ronaldo claimed the number 7 shirt, eventually turning it into the globally recognized “CR7” brand.
His final appearance for Portugal occurred on September 24 in a 1-0 victory over Wales, during which he was substituted in the 67th minute. Following this match, a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus—sparked by the coach’s decision to bench him for the subsequent game—led to an explosive fallout. This resulted in a 30-day suspension and a 255-euro ($285) fine for the player.
Record-Breaking Legacy
Ronaldo’s impact on Portuguese football is defined by his ability to elevate the team to consistent success. Before his arrival, Portugal had only qualified for three World Cups (1966, 1986, and 2002) and three European Championships (1984, 1996, and 2000). With Ronaldo, the nation qualified for every edition of both tournaments. He captained the team to its first major title at Euro 2016, followed by Nations League victories in 2019 and 2025.
His statistical achievements are extensive, including scoring for Portugal in 23 consecutive calendar years from 2004 to 2026. He remains the country’s top World Cup scorer with 11 goals across 27 matches. In 2024, he became the first male player to reach 200 international appearances during a Euro qualifying match against Iceland.
Ronaldo also holds numerous European and global records, including:
- Most European Championship tournaments played (6).
- Most appearances (30) and goals (14) in European Championship history.
- First player to score 100 international goals for a European nation.
- First player to play and score in six different World Cups, from 2006 to 2026.
- Oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout match at 41 years and 147 days old.
Future Outlook
While his international career has ended, Ronaldo remains active at the club level. He is scheduled to return to the pitch for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on November 20 against Al-Qadsiah. Meanwhile, the Portuguese national team continues its campaign, with a Nations League match against Denmark scheduled for November 14 in Braga, followed by a final group game away against Wales.
