Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football after 23 years with Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from the Portugal national team. He announced it in an Instagram video on Thursday, 5 November: "To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team." The 41-year-old leaves with 146 goals in 234 appearances. Both are world records for men's international football. He made his debut in 2003 and won Euro 2016 with Portugal. The decision comes after a public fall-out with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo walked out of the national team camp in September after he was told he would not start the Nations League match against Denmark. He was then suspended from international duty and fined. The Portuguese federation has thanked him and says it plans a tribute where fans can "applaud and celebrate" him. This is not the end of his career. Ronaldo is still playing club football at Al Nassr. In August he said the current Saudi Pro League season is "probably my last year of football". His contract runs until June 2027.