Cristiano Ronaldo announces his Portugal retirement: time to hand back the No. 7
At 41, the captain announced his farewell after 23 years with the national team, with 146 goals, 234 caps and three titles for Portugal.
Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday, November 5, his retirement from the Portugal national team at the age of 41. The forward shared the decision in a long video on social media, in which he spoke about the moment to hand his place to the next generations.
"People of Portugal, the day has come to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team."
In his message he said it was not an easy decision, because some decisions are made not only with the head but also with the heart. He recalled victories, defeats and sacrifices, and thanked his teammates, coaches, family and Portuguese fans around the world.
He leaves with 146 goals in 234 senior internationals, making him the all-time top scorer and most-capped player in men's international football.
From Kazakhstan to the final game
His story began on August 20, 2003, in a 1-0 win over Kazakhstan. He was 18. Since then he played in six European Championships and six World Cups, a journey that spanned several generations of Portuguese footballers. His last game was on September 24, a 1-0 Nations League win over Wales.
With Portugal he won Euro 2016, the senior team's first major title, and later lifted the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
A farewell after the controversy
The farewell comes weeks after his clash with head coach Jorge Jesus, who benched him, and his exit from the team camp on September 30. That episode had raised doubts about his return, although Jesus said the door remained open and that a comeback was up to the player.
The Portuguese Football Federation expressed its deep gratitude, called him the best player of all time and said it plans a tribute so fans can applaud their captain once more.
Ronaldo continues his career with Saudi club Al-Nassr, where he is chasing 1,000 career goals. His message to Portugal was summed up in one line: "Portugal will always be part of me."
Sources: El Financiero (AP) · Emol · Yahoo Noticias
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