Cristiano Ronaldo retires from Portugal national team: 'The day has come'

As of 7:13 a.m. ET, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026

"To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team," Cristiano Ronaldo said Thursday, announcing his retirement from international football in a video message, according to AFP.

"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 said, according to AFP's translation.

Ronaldo posted the roughly five-minute video on his X account at about 5:29 a.m. ET with a single line in Portuguese: "Portugal estará sempre em mim," or "Portugal will always be in me." AFP reported that the announcement was made on Instagram. The Associated Press also reported the retirement.

A decision 'made with the heart'

"It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the mind alone," Ronaldo said, according to the AP's translation. "They are also made with the heart."

The 41-year-old's announcement comes weeks after a public split with national team coach Jorge Jesus. AFP reported that the two fell out last month after Jesus declined to use Ronaldo in a Nations League match, and that Ronaldo then left the team camp.

Ronaldo made his Portugal debut in 2003 and captained the side that won the 2016 European Championship. The decision ends his international career only; he did not announce retirement from club football.

Portugal is due to name its squad Friday for this month's Nations League matches, the BBC reported.