Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday that he is retiring from international football, bringing an end to his playing career with Portugal. The 41-year-old forward revealed the decision in a video message posted on social media, telling fans in Portugal that it was time to hand back the number 7 shirt for the national team.
The announcement covers only his international career. Ronaldo is not retiring from professional club football and continues to play for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo leaves the national team after 23 years, having started his international career in 2003. He played 234 games for Portugal and scored 146 goals, figures that make him the most capped player and the all-time top scorer in men's international football.
Over that span he appeared in six World Cups and multiple European Championships. Among his key achievements with Portugal, he captained the side to their first European Championship title at Euro 2016, lifted the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019, and won another Nations League title in 2025.
Across his club career, Ronaldo has played for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and now Al-Nassr, winning five Ballon d'Or awards along the way. Outside football, he has built a substantial business empire through sponsorship deals, investments and his CR7 brand. As of October 2025, Bloomberg calculated his net worth at 1.4 billion dollars, making him the first footballer to reach billionaire status.
