Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a record breaking 23 year career with Portugal.

The 41 year old made the announcement on Thursday in an emotional video posted on social media, where he read a letter to his supporters.

In the video, Ronaldo said the day had come for him to hand back the number 7 shirt of the national team. He said the shirt never belonged to him alone, and that the time had come to pass it on to the future. He described the decision as difficult, saying some decisions are made with the heart as well as the mind.

Ronaldo retires as the most capped player and the highest scorer in men international football. He made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals, both world records. He made his debut against Kazakhstan in August 2003 at the age of 18, and captained Portugal from 2008.

The highlight of his international career came in 2016, when he led Portugal to their first major trophy at the European Championship in France. He also helped Portugal win the Nations League in 2019 and 2025. He played at a record six European Championships and six World Cups, and became the first player to score at six editions of the World Cup.

His announcement followed a public fallout with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo left the national team camp last month after Jesus did not use him against Norway, accusing the coach of breaking a promise to give him game time. He was later handed a suspension and a fine by the Portuguese Football Federation, before apologising.

The Portuguese Football Federation said it would not let the farewell take place without due tribute. The federation expressed deep gratitude and immense admiration for Ronaldo service, and said it wants to organise a fitting tribute where fans and the country can celebrate the player who gave so much to Portugal.

Ronaldo is not retiring from football completely. He will continue to play club football for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he is under contract until June 2027. He is currently on 985 career goals and is closing in on 1,000. His announcement came shortly after his longtime rival Lionel Messi also retired from international football with Argentina.