Ronaldo hands back the No 7 shirt after 23 years, retiring from international football at 41

Cristiano Ronaldo will not be seen in a Portugal shirt again. The 41-year-old Portuguese superstar has announced his retirement from international football, ending an international career spanning more than two decades. He said he will hand back the national team's number seven shirt after the November international break.

In a video published on Instagram on Thursday, Ronaldo read out a letter to supporters announcing his retirement. Referring to his iconic number seven shirt, he said: 'To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team. I never felt it belonged to me alone, but for 23 years I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it.'

In the letter he added: 'Today the time has come to pass it on to the future. It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the mind alone — they are also made with the heart. A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end.'

Ronaldo's international numbers underline his stature. He scored 146 goals in 234 matches for Portugal — both world records. His 146 goals are the highest by any player in men's international football.

Since making his debut in 2003, Ronaldo became an inseparable part of the Portugal team. He is one of the male footballers to have played at six World Cups.

His career also brought team honours. Under his leadership, Portugal won the European Championship for the first time in 2016. The team later won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.

The retirement decision, however, came after some uncomfortable recent events. In September, Ronaldo walked out of the Portugal camp after being told he would not start the Nations League match against Denmark. Reports of strained relations with coach Jorge Jesus and a disciplinary ban also formed part of the backdrop to the farewell.

Ronaldo's departure brings to a close a long and colourful chapter for the Portugal national team. Portugal are set to announce their squad on Friday for November's Nations League fixtures — against Denmark at home and Wales away. The legend's farewell message arrived the day before that squad announcement.

The Portugal Football Federation said it refuses to let this farewell take place without due tribute. In a statement, the federation said it is its firm and immense desire to organise, plan, participate in and actively collaborate in a fitting tribute to Ronaldo's immense career, in which fans and the country can applaud and celebrate, once again, the player who has given them so much.

Ronaldo's great rival, Argentina legend Lionel Messi, retired from international football in October. With the two superstars leaving their national teams within a month of each other, the greatest rivalry of an era in international football has also come to an end.