Cristiano Ronaldo retires from Portugal’s national team after 23 years

Cristiano Ronaldo announced Thursday, Nov. 5, that he is retiring from international football with Portugal, ending a 23-year national-team career. The 41-year-old forward has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, figures reported by BBC Sport and AP as men’s world records for international goals and caps.

In an Instagram video quoted by BBC Sport, Ronaldo said he was handing back the No. 7 shirt and that a journey that began in August 2003 had come to an end. His honors with Portugal include the 2016 European Championship and UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. He is expected to continue playing club football with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, ESPN reported. The Portuguese Football Federation said it intends to organize a tribute to his career.

Source: BBC Sport: Ronaldo retires from Portugal duty; AP News; ESPN