Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a remarkable 23-year career representing Portugal.

The 41-year-old forward made the announcement on Thursday, November 5, through an emotional video shared on social media. He confirmed that he would step away from the national team after the November international break, bringing an end to a journey that began when he was an 18-year-old footballer.

Ronaldo accompanied his announcement with a message that captured his attachment to his country: "Portugal will always be in me."

In his farewell address, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner said the time had come to hand over Portugal's famous number 7 shirt to future generations.

"To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team," he said.

He explained that the shirt had never belonged to him alone, despite the responsibility he had carried for more than two decades.

"For 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world."

The forward admitted that the decision was difficult because it involved more than football.

"It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not made only with the head. They are also made with the heart," he said.

From an 18-year-old debutant to Portugal's greatest goalscorer

Ronaldo's international journey began on August 20, 2003, when he made his senior debut against Kazakhstan.

At the time, he was a promising young winger who had recently joined Manchester United. Few could have predicted the scale of the career that followed.

He went on to make 234 appearances for Portugal, scoring 146 goals. Both figures stand as world records in men's international football.

His international career also included six European Championships and six FIFA World Cups, making him one of the most experienced players in the history of major international tournaments.

Ronaldo first appeared at the European Championship in 2004, when Portugal hosted the competition. The team reached the final but suffered a painful 1-0 defeat against Greece.

Twelve years later, he finally lifted the trophy.

Euro 2016 remains a defining moment

One of the greatest achievements of Ronaldo's career came at Euro 2016 in France, where he captained Portugal to its first major international trophy.

Portugal defeated France 1-0 after extra time in the final at the Stade de France, with Éder scoring the decisive goal.

Ronaldo's evening ended prematurely after he suffered a knee injury in the first half. He was forced off but continued encouraging his teammates from the touchline.

The victory marked a turning point for Portuguese football and established Ronaldo as the captain who had led the country to its greatest international success at the time.

He later added two UEFA Nations League titles, winning the inaugural competition in 2019 before helping Portugal secure another triumph in 2025.

Ronaldo also leaves as the European Championship's leading goalscorer, with 14 goals in the tournament's final stages.

An emotional farewell to supporters

Beyond his achievements, Ronaldo's farewell focused on the people who followed him throughout his international career.

He spoke about Portuguese communities living abroad, explaining how national-team matches offered supporters an opportunity to feel closer to their homeland.

He also acknowledged millions of supporters he had never met personally but who had remained part of his journey.

"Because, in the end, football is much bigger than a game. Football is people," he said.

Ronaldo reflected on the victories, disappointments and sacrifices that came with representing his country.

He admitted that there were moments when he had failed to deliver the results supporters expected, but insisted that he had never stopped fighting for Portugal.

"I failed too, I suffered too, and there were moments when I was unable to give the Portuguese people what they wanted so much. But I never gave up."

He thanked his teammates, coaches, medical personnel, kit staff, federation officials and family for supporting him throughout the years.

Ronaldo's departure follows tension with Portugal's coach

The announcement also comes after a difficult period involving Portugal's head coach, Jorge Jesus.

Reports indicated that relations between the two had deteriorated after Ronaldo was left on the bench during Portugal's 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway.

The disagreement raised questions about the forward's future with the national team, particularly after he left the team's training camp.

Ronaldo subsequently addressed the controversy, accepting responsibility for his actions while maintaining that his commitment to Portugal had not changed.

He was still considered for the November international fixtures, but his retirement announcement has now brought those possibilities to an end.

Notably, Ronaldo did not mention the disagreement with his coach in his farewell message. Instead, he concentrated on his relationship with the supporters and the people who had contributed to his career.

Will Ronaldo retire from club football too?

Ronaldo's announcement concerns his international career and does not mean he is immediately retiring from professional football.

The forward continues to play for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, where he remains a major figure in the Saudi Pro League.

His departure from Portugal will, however, mark a significant change for the national team.

For more than two decades, Ronaldo has been central to Portugal's ambitions, serving as captain, leading the attack and setting international scoring records.

His final international appearance was against Wales on September 24, 2026, according to Opta's career records.

'The greatest victory was representing Portugal'

In the closing section of his farewell message, Ronaldo reflected on how his understanding of success had changed over the years.

Having spent much of his career pursuing individual awards, goals and trophies, he said the opportunity to represent his country had ultimately become his greatest achievement.

"I spent my life working to be the best player in the world. Today I understand that the greatest victory was earning the right to represent the best country in the world," he said.

He also remembered his childhood in Madeira, where his dream of becoming a professional footballer first began.

"Thank you for these 23 years. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for allowing me to live a dream that began when I was just a boy in Madeira, running after a ball."

Ronaldo ended his message by making it clear that although he was giving up the national-team shirt, his connection to Portugal would remain.

"The shirt may be handed on, but the pride of having worn it will be mine forever."

"Portugal will always be in me."