Ronaldo Retires From International Football
The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward ends a 23-year Portugal career that produced a men's record 146 international goals.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Soccer
Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football, ending a career with Portugal that began in August 2003. Neymar Jr. responded to the announcement on Instagram with a clapping emoji and the word "LEGEND."
Why it matters
Ronaldo is men's international football's all-time leading goalscorer, so his departure closes one of the sport's longest and most prolific national-team careers. The announcement also draws attention to the broader generation of veteran forwards whose international careers are concluding.
Ronaldo's 146 goals in 234 Portugal appearances stand as the men's international record, while Neymar's 80 goals in 130 appearances make him Brazil's all-time top scorer. Details of any future farewell fixtures were not included in the source material.
The players
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portuguese forward widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, he is men's international football's all-time leading goalscorer and currently plays for Saudi club Al-Nassr.
Neymar Jr.
Brazilian forward and Brazil's national team record goalscorer, he is one of the most prominent players of his generation and has been among the sport's most recognizable figures.
The details
Ronaldo confirmed his retirement from international football on Instagram, closing a career that spanned 23 years and included captaining Portugal to its first European Championship title in 2016. Neymar responded to the post with a clapping emoji and the single word "LEGEND."
Timeline
August 2003: Ronaldo's international career begins.
2016: Portugal wins its first European Championship under Ronaldo's captaincy.
2019 and 2025: Portugal wins UEFA Nations League titles.
Earlier in 2026: Neymar retires from Brazil national team duty.
Thursday, November 5, 2026: Ronaldo announces his international retirement.
Season Trajectory
Ronaldo's departure follows the pattern set by earlier record-holding international icons whose exits reshaped their national teams' goal-scoring benchmarks for decades. His retirement leaves Portugal without its record scorer and marks a turning point for the national side as it moves beyond the era that produced its 2016 European Championship.
Fantasy and league managers tracking Ronaldo's output will no longer see international matches factor into his scoring totals going forward. Portugal's national-team roster will need to be rebuilt without its record scorer for upcoming qualifiers and tournaments.
The takeaway
Ronaldo's record of 146 international goals sets a benchmark that will be measured against for years, making his career a useful reference point for evaluating future national-team scorers. Readers following the sport can track how Portugal and Brazil reshape their attacks without these two long-serving forwards.
Further reading
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