It is finally over for Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal national team. The 41-year-old captain announced on Thursday, November 5, 2026, that he has retired from international football, closing a 23-year chapter that made him the most-capped player and the highest goalscorer in the history of men's international football.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star broke the news in a video posted across his social media accounts. Daily Post Nigeria described the clip as five minutes long. He walks away with 146 goals from 234 appearances for his country between 2003 and 2026.
The decision affects only his Portugal career. According to Naija News, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has not announced any plan to stop playing club football, where he currently turns out for Saudi side Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo's farewell, in his own words
In the full text of his farewell published by Naija News, Ronaldo addressed the nation directly: "To the Portuguese people, The day has come to hand back the shirt and the captain’s armband of the national team that belongs to all of us. I never felt that it was exclusively mine, but for 23 years, I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it, and carrying it with me to stadiums all around the world."
He continued: "Today, the moment has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the head alone. They are also made with the heart."
An earlier Naija News report rendered the same opening a little differently, quoting him as saying it was time "to hand back to number seven shirt of our national team. I never felt it belonged to me alone."
Looking back at a journey that began in August 2003, Ronaldo said: "I am bringing to an end a journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever. When I look back and think about everything I experienced with the national team, I don’t just see matches, goals, records, or trophies. I see people."
"I see immigrants who, for 90 minutes, felt a little closer to Portugal. I see millions of Portuguese people whom I never met personally, but who became part of my life. Because, at the end of the day, football is much bigger than a game. Football is about people."
The famously driven forward spoke about his own hunger: "Throughout my entire career with the national team, I always tried to push beyond 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 we could go further, and I gave everything I had for this shirt. There were perfect afternoons and nights. There were victories I will never forget. There were defeats that still hurt to remember today."
