Cristiano Ronaldo announces retirement from international football

Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo on Thursday announced his retirement from international football, Vanguard reports.

The 41-year-old forward, the country’s most-capped player and all-time top scorer, bows out after 234 appearances and 146 goals.

His decision follows a falling-out last month with national coach Jorge Jesus, who refused to field him in a Nations League match, prompting Ronaldo to leave the national team camp.

“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo said in a video posted on his Instagram account.

“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 added.

Ronaldo captained Portugal to the Euro 2016 title, beating France in the final at the Stade de France, and later to the 2019 and 2025 Nations League crowns.