Kathmandu [Nepal], November 5 – Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his intention to retire from international football, bringing his 23-year career with the national team towards an end.
The 41-year-old confirmed his decision in a social media post on Thursday, saying he would give up Portugal’s iconic No. 7 shirt following the November international break.
Ronaldo leaves behind an extraordinary record, having scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal since making his international debut against Kazakhstan on August 20, 2003. He remains the leading goalscorer and most-capped player in men’s international football.
His achievements include 10 international hat-tricks and two matches in which he scored four goals. Of his 146 goals, 124 came in competitive fixtures, while 22 were scored in friendlies.
Ronaldo also became the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup editions, from 2006 to 2026, recording 11 goals in the tournament. He holds the European Championship scoring record with 14 goals across six editions.
His most significant international achievement came in 2016, when he captained Portugal to its first European Championship title. He also helped the country win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
