Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From Portugal After 23 Years: Best Moments, Record 146 Goals and Key Stats Explained

After 23 years, one of football’s longest international careers is over. Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from Portugal duty, handing back the famous No. 7 shirt and closing a…

By Reetam Bodhak

November 5, 2026

2 min read

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After 23 years, one of football’s longest international careers is over. Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from Portugal duty, handing back the famous No. 7 shirt and closing a chapter that began when he was a teenager.

Cristiano Ronaldo Announcement

Ronaldo, now 41, shared an emotional video message thanking the Portuguese people. He said the shirt never belonged to him alone and that he was privileged to carry it for 23 years. The farewell came after a sour note in October, when he reportedly left a training camp after being told he would not start against Denmark in the Nations League.

A Debut That Passed the Torch

Ronaldo debuted on August 20, 2003, aged 18, coming on at half-time for Luis Figo in a 1-0 friendly win over Kazakhstan. His first goal followed at Euro 2004, a late header in a loss to Greece. Portugal lost the final to the same side, but Ronaldo made the Team of the Tournament. Discover more football news on TechnoSports.

Trophies and Defining Moments

2006 World Cup: Portugal finished fourth, and Ronaldo’s clash with Wayne Rooney became one of the tournament’s most talked-about incidents.
Euro 2016: Portugal’s first major trophy. Ronaldo limped off injured after 25 minutes of the final, then cheered on teammates from the touchline until Eder’s extra-time winner.
2018 World Cup: A hat trick against Spain, capped by a late free kick, made him the oldest player to score a World Cup treble.
Nations League: He captained Portugal to the 2019 title and scored in the 2025 final, which Portugal won on penalties against Spain.

Career Numbers

Record	Figure
Caps	234
Goals	146
International hat tricks	10
World Cups scored in	6 (a men’s record)
Major honours	Euro 2016, 2 Nations League titles
Nearest rival	Lionel Messi, 126 goals in 208 caps

Breaking the Goal Record

In 2021, two goals against the Republic of Ireland took him to 111 and past Ali Daei’s 109, making him the top scorer in men’s international football. He has since stretched the gap to 20 goals over Messi. His final international goal came against Croatia at last summer’s World Cup, leaving rivals a fixed target. Read our latest sports updates for more.

Legacy

Few players have matched his longevity or consistency. For a fuller profile, see Cristiano Ronaldo on Wikipedia. Whatever the manner of his exit, the numbers speak for themselves.