Cristiano Ronaldo has officially brought the curtain down on his illustrious international career, announcing his retirement from Portugal duty after 23 years, six World Cup appearances and a record-breaking haul of 146 goals in 234 matches.The five-time Ballon d’Or winner made the announcement on Thursday through an emotional video message addressed to the Portuguese people, confirming that his journey with the national team had reached its end. However, the 40-year-old is not retiring from professional football and is expected to continue playing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr until the end of the current season.Ronaldo’s international career began in August 2003, before Euro 2004, and saw him become one of the most influential figures in Portuguese football history. He captained the country to its maiden major international trophy at Euro 2016 and subsequently lifted the inaugural UEFA Nations League title in 2019.He also holds the men’s all-time international scoring record with 146 goals, having represented Portugal in six editions of the FIFA World Cup. Ronaldo is currently pursuing the remarkable milestone of 1,000 career goals, with his tally standing at 985.
Ronaldo’s Portugal farewell follows tense spell with coach Jorge Jesus
The announcement comes after a difficult period involving Portugal coach Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo’s last appearance for the national side came on September 24, when Portugal registered a 1-0 home victory over Wales in the Nations League.Jesus subsequently left the veteran forward on the bench for the following match and indicated that he did not intend to start him in the next fixture either. Ronaldo then decided to leave the national team’s training camp. Although Jesus later said the forward would be welcome back and that the decision to return rested with him, Ronaldo has now brought his international career to an end.His farewell comes shortly after long-time rival Lionel Messi brought his international career with Argentina to a close last month following a much-anticipated farewell appearance.The Portuguese Football Federation paid tribute to Ronaldo, expressing “deep gratitude and immense admiration” for his contribution to the country.In his farewell message, Ronaldo spoke about the sacrifices, victories, defeats and emotional connections that defined his 23-year journey. He also thanked his teammates, coaches, support staff and family, while reflecting on what representing Portugal meant to him.One passage particularly captured the emotion of his farewell, with Ronaldo declaring: “There is only one passion: PORTUGAL.”He signed off by promising to continue supporting the national side, adding that he would keep celebrating every Portuguese victory with his trademark “Siuuu!”
Read full text of Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement announcement speech
“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team. 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. 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. When I look back at everything I experienced with the national team, I don’t just see matches, goals, records, or trophies. I see people. I see Portuguese people living abroad, who, for ninety minutes, felt a little closer to home. I see millions of Portuguese people I have never met, but who became part of my life. Because, at the end of the day, football is so much bigger than a game. Football is about people.Throughout my entire career with the national team, I always pushed myself beyond my limits. I wanted to win. I wanted to be better. I wanted to make history. I always demanded the most 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. I made mistakes. I suffered. There were also moments when I couldn’t give the Portuguese people what they so desperately wanted. But I never gave up. And above all, I never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal.Over the years, I learned a few very simple things: goals fade. Trophies end up in museums. Records are eventually broken. But there is something that time can never erase: the place we hold in people’s hearts. If I ever made you happy, if one of my goals ever made you embrace someone, forget a worry, or feel proud of our country, then it was all worth it. Because being Portuguese is also about this. We suffer together. We rise together. We believe again.Portugal will always need young people who dare to dream. Players who never give up. New generations who believe it is possible to go where no one has gone before. Because a country that keeps creating new heroes is a country that never stops believing in itself.To my teammates, I want to say something special. Thank you for every run. For every embrace. For every argument. For every silence before stepping onto the pitch. For every victory we celebrated together, and for every defeat that made us stronger. I had the privilege of being your captain, but no captain walks alone. And you will always be part of my story. To all the coaches, directors, doctors, physiotherapists, kit managers, staff members, and so many others who worked alongside me throughout these years, thank you. Many of you never appeared in the photographs. But without you, none of these photographs would never been possible.To my family.. Thank you for sharing this dream with me. Thank you for understanding the absences, the sacrifices, and the moments when the national team had to take up a space in my life that also belonged to you. If I came this far, it was because we always hand in hand.And to the people of Portugal…To every Portuguese person, wherever you are in the world, there is one last thing I want to tell you. There is an image I will carry with me forever. The moment our national anthem begins. I look around. I see my teammates. I see the stands. I see children, mothers, fathers and grandparents. I see Portuguese people who have travelled so far just to be there. And for those few minutes, all our differences disappear. There are no clubs. There are no colours. There are no classes. There are no professions. There are no opinions.There is only one passion: PORTUGAL. That is the feeling I will carry with me for the rest of my life.Today, my journey on the pitch with the national team comes to an end. I leave with my head held high. Proud of the path I have taken, and knowing that I gave everything I had for Portugal. But I will never stop being one of you. I will keep suffering, cheering, and celebrating every Portuguese victory with a Siuuuuu!I spent my life working to be the best player in the world. Today, I realise that my greatest victory was earning the honour to representing the best country in the world.Thank you for these 23 years. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for allowing me to live a dream that began when I was just a little boy, in Madeira, running after a football.The number 7 shirt will remain. The pride of having worn it will be mine forever. Portugal will always be a part of me. Farewell, until we meet again. Cristiano Ronaldo”
