Cristiano Ronaldo Announces Retirement from International Football After 23 Years

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football on Thursday at the age of 41, bringing to an end a distinguished career with his national team spanning more than 23 years.

 "Today, my journey with the Portugal national team comes to an end. The time has come for me to return the number 7 shirt to the national team and bring an end to a career that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever," Ronaldo said in his retirement announcement.

 The Al-Nassr FC striker, who made his international debut in 2003, made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals.

 His most recent appearance came at the FIFA World Cup 2026, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, where he achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first player to score in six different editions of the tournament.

 With his retirement, Ronaldo ends an exceptional international career in which he established himself as one of the most prominent players in world football history.