146 Goals and 234 Caps: Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, ending a 23-year tenure with the Portugal national team. The 41-year-old forward, who holds the world record for both international caps and goals, confirmed his decision on Thursday via an Instagram video, marking the conclusion of a career that began in August 2003.
A Record-Breaking Career in Numbers
Over the course of his international journey, Ronaldo earned 234 caps and scored 146 goals for his country.
The forward’s announcement follows a period of friction within the national team setup. Last month, Ronaldo walked out of the Portugal camp after being informed he would not start in a Nations League match against Denmark. While he subsequently apologized, the incident highlighted a growing misalignment between the player and the team’s current direction under head coach Jorge Jesus.
The Decision to Hand Back the Number Seven
In his video address, Ronaldo characterized the choice as one made with both the mind and the heart. “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,” he stated. He emphasized that for 23 years, the shirt represented a privilege and a responsibility rather than personal ownership.
“If I ever made you happy, if one of my goals ever made you hug someone, forget a worry or feel proud of our country, then it was all worth it,” Ronaldo said in his announcement.
The retirement comes amid a broader shift in international football, occurring shortly after his rival Lionel Messi also retired from international play with Argentina. For many supporters, Ronaldo remains the most significant figure in the history of the Portuguese national team, despite the unceremonious nature of his final weeks in the camp.
Continued Professional Play in Saudi Arabia
While his international career has concluded, Ronaldo remains an active professional player. He continues to compete for the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr FC. He has recorded 985 career goals, placing him within reach of the 1,000-goal milestone.
The Future of the Portuguese Squad
The timing of the announcement places the Portuguese Football Federation in a period of transition ahead of upcoming Nations League fixtures against Denmark and Wales.
Ronaldo’s retirement closes a chapter that spanned more than two decades, beginning with his debut in 2003 and concluding after he secured his place as the most-capped and highest-scoring player in the history of men’s international football.