Cristiano Ronaldo shared a video message on social media Thursday declaring the end of his time with the Portuguese national team. The 41-year-old stated that the moment had arrived to return the No. 7 shirt he had worn with distinction since debuting in 2003. AP News reported that the announcement followed his departure from the national squad last month after a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus, bringing a complex chapter to a close. Ronaldo’s international record includes appearances across six World Cups and leadership in Portugal’s breakthrough successes on the continental stage.
A journey that began in August 2003 before Euro 2004 on home soil delivered both records and silverware for the forward. He guided Portugal to the European Championship in 2016 and secured UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025, according to UEFA tallies. Ronaldo leaves as the men’s all-time leading international scorer with 146 goals from 234 caps, figures verified across multiple football governing body databases. The video address highlighted the personal weight of the choice, noting that some decisions arise from the heart as much as strategy.
“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo said in the video message. “I never felt it belonged to me alone but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me into stadiums all around the world.” He continued by explaining the difficulty of the moment, adding “Today the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision because some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart. A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end.”
The decision arrives amid reported strains in his relationship with the current national team setup. Ronaldo had walked out of training camp in September following an unused substitute appearance, an episode CNN detailed as part of growing frustration over his reduced influence on the pitch. Earlier statements from October indicated he initially planned to remain available after serving any suspension, yet the latest video confirms his full withdrawal from future selections. Portuguese media accounts described the exit as the conclusion of a tenure that transformed expectations for the national side.
Ronaldo reflected on the broader impact beyond statistics in his farewell. He spoke of connecting with Portuguese communities abroad and millions of supporters who viewed matches as a link to home. A companion announcement from rival Lionel Messi retiring from Argentina duty this year underscored a generational shift at the top of world football, as observed in coverage from Sporting News. Portugal’s football federation had previously expressed hope for a formal farewell event, though no immediate schedule emerged following the Thursday statement.
His club future remains with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where he continues chasing personal milestones including a career total approaching 1,000 goals. The international retirement closes a segment that began with promise at Sporting CP and evolved into global stardom. Ronaldo’s message closed with appreciation for the belief shown in him throughout the 23-year span, a period that reshaped Portugal’s standing in international competition.
