Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he will retire from international football after Portugal’s November matches, bringing an end to his 23-year career with the national team following a turbulent dispute with head coach Jorge Jesus.
The 41-year-old forward made the announcement on Thursday, November 5, ending speculation about his international future after a public disagreement with the coach led to his departure from Portugal’s training camp and a subsequent suspension.
Ronaldo leaves as Portugal’s all-time leading scorer, with 146 goals in 234 appearances. He captained the country to its first European Championship title in 2016 and helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
In his retirement announcement, Ronaldo described the decision as emotional but said he was proud of what he had achieved for his country.
“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,” he said.
Reflecting on his achievements, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said football records and trophies would eventually be surpassed, but the bond he had built with Portuguese supporters would remain.
“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,” he said.
He added: “I spent my life working to be the best player in the world. Today I realise that the greatest victory was to have deserved to represent the best country in the world.”
Ronaldo also thanked his teammates, coaches, family and supporters for standing by him throughout his international career.
“Thank you for these 23 years. Thank you for having believed in me. Portugal will always be in me. Forever,” he said.
His announcement comes after a major disagreement with Jesus during Portugal’s September international camp.
The dispute began after Ronaldo was left on the bench throughout Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway on September 27. He subsequently left the team’s training camp in Copenhagen on September 30, ahead of another fixture against Denmark.
In a lengthy statement released on October 6, Ronaldo claimed Jesus had promised him 30 minutes of playing time against Norway but failed to bring him on after he had warmed up.
“The head coach had failed to keep his word,” Ronaldo said, explaining why he decided to leave the camp.
He further alleged that the coach had agreed to clarify the circumstances publicly but failed to do so.
“It was the second time he was failing to keep his word to me. I decided to leave the camp without waiting for any further broken promise,” he said.
Jesus, however, denied that he had made an agreement with Ronaldo over his playing time, while maintaining that the forward remained welcome in the national team.
Ronaldo later apologised to his teammates and Portuguese supporters for leaving the camp and failing to acknowledge fans after the Norway match. He also accepted responsibility for his actions and asked the Portuguese Football Federation to punish him without leniency.
“I also owe an apology to my national team team-mates for having left the camp,” he said.
“The consequence of this act of mine must be assessed and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation. I believe the punishment should have no mitigating factors. I am not just any player. I am the team captain, and that is an aggravating factor.”
The Portuguese Football Federation subsequently imposed a 30-day suspension and a fine of £215 over the walkout. The suspension was understood to have taken effect from the date he left the squad.
Ronaldo’s retirement announcement marks the end of a remarkable international career that began in 2003. He holds the records for the most appearances and goals in men’s international football, having scored 146 times for Portugal.
His departure will also mark the end of an era for a national team he led to major international success, including the historic Euro 2016 triumph and two Nations League titles.
