Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football ahead of the upcoming November international break. The 41-year-old made the announcement through an emotional social media post in which he looked back at his career and labelled playing for the national team as the ‘greatest victory of his career.’
The announcement marks the end of the career of one of the all-time greatest players in international football history. Ronaldo’s career lasted over two decades after his debut for Portugal in 2003. He played his last match for the national team in the UEFA Nations League in September against Wales.
Over the course of his career, Ronaldo played 234 matches for Portugal and scored a world-record 146 goals. He was the captain of the Portugal team that won each of its three international trophies in history, including the 2016 Euros as well as the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025. He was also part of the Portugal team that reached their first-ever UEFA Euros final in 2004 and the semi-final of the FIFA world Cup for the second time in 2006.
In fact, Ronaldo was the captain of the Portugal national team from 2007 till his retirement. He played in a record six FIFA World Cups for the national team.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Full Statement In Text (Translated To English)
To the Portuguese, the day has come to return the number 7 jersey of the national team to all of us. I never felt like it was exclusively mine, but for 23 years I had the privilege and responsibility to wear it, to defend it and to take it with me to the stadiums all over the world. Today the time has come to give it to the future.
It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not taken only with the head, they are also taken with the heart. I finish a walk that started in August 2003 and changed my life forever. When I look back and think about everything I lived in the national team, I do not see only games, goals, records or trophies.
I see people. I see immigrants who for 90 minutes felt Portugal a little closer. I see millions of Portuguese that I never met personally, but who were part of my life. Because after all, football is much bigger than a game. Football is people. Throughout my career in the national team, I tried to overcome my limits. I wanted to win, I wanted to be the best, I wanted to make history. I was always demanding of myself. I always wanted more, I always believed that we could go further.
And I gave everything I had for this jersey. There were perfect afternoons and nights, there were victories that I will never forget, there were defeats that I still have a hard time remembering today. I also failed, I also suffered, there were also times when I was not able to give the Portuguese what they wanted so much. But I never gave up. And above all, I never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal. Over the years, I learned very simple things.
The goals pass, the cups are in museums, the records end up being beaten. But there is something that time can never erase, the place we occupy in people’s hearts. If ever I made you happy, if ever a goal of mine made you hug someone, forget a worry or feel pride in our country, then everything was worth it. Because being Portuguese is also that. We suffer together, we get up together. We believe again.
Portugal will always need young people who dream, players who never give up, of new generations who believe that it is possible to reach where no one has reached. Because a country that continues to create new heroes is a country that never ceases to believe in itself. To my teammates at the station, I want to leave a special word.
Thank you for every race, for every hug, for every discussion, for every silence before entering the pitch, for every victory we celebrated together and for every defeat that made us stronger. I had the privilege of being your captain, but no captain walks alone. And you are part of my story. To all the coaches, directors, doctors, physiotherapists, dressers, employees, and to so many people who have worked with me over the years, thank you. Many of you never appeared in the photos, but without you, none of these photos would have been possible. To my family, thank you for sharing this dream with me.
Thank you for understanding the absences, sacrifices and moments when the national team had to occupy a space that also belonged to you. If I got so far, it was because we were always at hand. And to the Portuguese, to all the Portuguese around the world, I want to tell you one last thing.
There is an image that I will always carry with me, the moment when the national anthem begins. I look around me, I see my teammates, I see the benches, I see children, mothers, parents and grandparents, I see the Portuguese who came so far just to be there. And during those minutes, we stopped being different. There are no clubs, there are no colors, there are no classes, there are no professions, there are no opinions, there is only one passion, Portugal. It is this feeling that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Today I finish my walk on the pitch with the national team, I leave with my head held high, with pride in the path I took, and with the awareness that I gave everything I had for Portugal.
But I will never stop being one of you. I will continue to suffer, to vibrate and celebrate every victory of Portugal with myself. I spent my life working to be the best player in the world. Today I realize that the greatest victory was to have deserved to represent the best country in the world. Thank you for these 23 years. Thank you for believing in me.
Thank you for allowing me to live a dream that started when I was just a boy, in Madeira, running after a ball. Camisola Certifica, the pride of wearing it will be mine forever. Portugal will always be in me. Forever. Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bureau Report
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