Cristiano Ronaldo ‌announced his intention ​to ⁠retire from the Portuguese ‌national team ‌on Thursday ‌(November 5, 2026) in ⁠a ⁠social media post.

The 41-year-old ​said ‌that he would ‘hand back the number ‌7 shirt’ ​after the November ⁠international break.

Ronaldo has ‌made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored ‌146 goals.

He ​holds the all-time ⁠record for international ⁠appearances and ‌for international goals.

It was a sad ending to a lauded career that began more than two decades ago before Euro 2004 and finished with him walking out on the national team after falling out with coach Jorge Jesus.

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“To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team,” the 41-year-old Ronaldo said in a long video message on social media.

“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.”