Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From International Football: Portugal's No. 7 Hands Back the Shirt
Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football. On Thursday 5 November 2026, the 41-year-old posted an Instagram video in which he read a letter to supporters and said he is handing back Portugal's number 7 shirt. He leaves with 234 caps and 146 goals, both records, per Al Jazeera and CNN. He is not retiring from football altogether and will keep playing club football with Al-Nassr.
What Ronaldo announced
The announcement came as a long video on Instagram rather than a press conference. Ronaldo read out a letter thanking Portuguese fans, the people who coached him, and the teammates he played alongside across 23 years. The caption was short: "Portugal will always be a part of me."
The decision covers the national team only. Al Jazeera reports that he will carry on at club level, where he is still chasing 1,000 career goals. A year ago, in November 2025, he had already said the 2026 World Cup in North America would be his last.
Ronaldo's Portugal career in numbers
- Caps: 234, a record.
- Goals: 146, a record.
- Debut: August 2003, against Kazakhstan.
- Trophies: Euro 2016, where he captained Portugal to their first major title, and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
For the full run of moments from that debut to this week, read our Ronaldo Portugal career timeline.
What happens to Portugal's number 7 shirt
Ronaldo framed the letter around the shirt itself. He is giving the number 7 back to the national team, and Portugal have not said who will wear it next. Whoever takes it inherits one of the most recognisable numbers in the game. Our guide to iconic number 7 shirts covers the players who made that number famous before and alongside him.
For fans, the bigger question is what to do with the shirts they already own. A shirt bought for a tournament becomes a record of where you were when it happened. We look at that side of the story in what Ronaldo's retirement means for shirt collectors. It is also the reason people buy our mystery football shirt: you open the box without knowing which club or country is inside.
FAQs
Has Cristiano Ronaldo retired from football completely?
No. He has retired from international football with Portugal only. He is still playing club football with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
How many goals did Ronaldo score for Portugal?
Ronaldo scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal. Both figures are records.
What did Ronaldo win with Portugal?
He won Euro 2016 as captain, plus the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
When did Ronaldo make his Portugal debut?
He made his debut in August 2003, against Kazakhstan.