Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football handing over famous No 7 jersey

Cristiano Ronaldo concludes his international football career Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international competition on Thursday, concluding a historic 23-year tenure with the Portugal national team. Concluding an era that defined modern football, the 41-year-old forward announced his international football retirement through a heartfelt video message on X.

His departure brings closure to an unprecedented run featuring six World Cup appearances, a European Championship title, and the standing men's all-time international scoring record. Record-breaking legacy He departs the global stage boasting unmatched statistics, having scored 146 goals across 234 appearances for his country.

Making his debut prior to Euro 2004, he transformed the national side into a consistent global contender. His unparalleled dominance shaped modern European football dynamics over two decades.

However, his final chapter carried moments of tension. His exit follows a well-publicized fallout with coach Jorge Jesus last month.

During a recent Nations League fixture, the coach benched the veteran forward, leading Ronaldo to exit the training camp prematurely.