End of an era: Cristiano Ronaldo Retires from International Football with 146 Goals

Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced his retirement from international football, leaving the Portuguese Football Federation (PFF) rushing to plan an official farewell after a bitter fallout with head coach Jorge Jesus ended his 23-year career with the national team.

The 41-year-old Al Nassr forward leaves as the all-time leading scorer and most capped player in international football history, having scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal. During his career, he led his country to victory at Euro 2016 and secured two UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.

Ronaldo confirmed his decision in an Instagram video on Thursday morning ahead of Portugal's upcoming squad announcement for November Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales. In the message, he said that the time had come to pass on the number seven shirt.

The decision comes following a public row with head coach Jorge Jesus during the September-October international window. Jesus, who replaced Roberto Martinez following Portugal’s round-of-16 exit to Spain at the recent World Cup, benched the former captain during a 2-1 win over Norway.

Ronaldo left the national team camp on October 1 before a scheduled match against Denmark, claiming Jesus had broken a promise to play him for 30 minutes against Norway. Ronaldo alleged that an eight-point agreement drawn up in a meeting with Jesus, Al Nassr sporting director Simao Coutinho, and strategic adviser Tiago Craveiro was ignored during a subsequent press conference.

Jesus denied making any such agreement. Although Ronaldo later acknowledged he should not have walked out of the camp, apologised to his teammates, and accepted a 30-day ban alongside a £215 fine from the federation, he ultimately decided to end his international career.

The PFF now faces the logistical task of organising an official farewell for its greatest player under strained circumstances. In a statement released following the announcement, the federation said it refuses to let the departure occur without a proper tribute and promised to collaborate on an event where fans can celebrate his career.

Ronaldo revealed that he originally planned to retire after Portugal's World Cup elimination in North America, but PFF President Pedro Proença persuaded him to stay while on the flight back home.

The retirement comes shortly after Argentina legend Lionel Messi also stepped down from international duty in October, marking the end of an era for modern football.