Breaking News: Ronaldo Ends International Football Career

Europe: Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football at age 41.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner made the decision on Thursday, November 5, bringing to an end his 23 years stint with the Portuguese National Team.

Ronaldo debuted for Portugal Senior National Team on August 20, 2003, at the age of 18 in a friendly match against Kazakhstan.

The 41-year-old striker made 234 appearances for Portugal — scoring 146 and providing 46 assists in major competitions. 

He guided the team to winning three major international titles, including UEFA Euro 2016 and UEFA Nations Leagues 2019 and 2025.

Cristiano Ronaldo retirement comes barely a month ago after he was handed a 30-day suspension from the Portuguese national team for prematurely departing the team's camp during the September International break.

It happened when Coach Jorge Jesus kept Cristiano Ronaldo warming-up in a Nation League Match against Norway and did not feature the player.

Ronaldo took it upon himself to leave the team's camp, stating that the coach failed to live up to his promise of giving him some minutes in the game.

The situation stirred mixed reactions among players and fans, in which the star later came back and openly apologized. It resulted in him being suspended for 30 days.

His suspension ended on October 30, 2026. Ronaldo's swift retirement after serving his suspension comes as a shock to many who thought that the player was going to reunite with the team and continue his Nation League campaign as he himself said he was not leaving the team soon.

However, football fans have now seen the two greatest players in the current generation leaving the international stage.

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi did so on August 31, 2026, barely three months after Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement.