Cristiano Ronaldo ends Portugal career after tension with coach

Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Portugal's national football team, announced on Thursday, 6 November, that he is retiring from international football. In a five-minute video, the 41-year-old forward, who first played for Portugal in 2003, said: "Portugal will always be a part of me." He holds the all-time records for international appearances (234) and goals (146).

The decision was not unexpected. In recent weeks Ronaldo had been at the centre of controversy, with attention on his reduced influence on the pitch, a public disagreement with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus, and a statement of nearly 2,000 words issued after he abruptly left a training camp midway through.

Achievements and decline

With Portugal, Ronaldo won Euro 2016, the national team's first major trophy, as well as UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. After the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he was benched for two knockout games and Portugal went out in the quarterfinals, his role grew more contested. The same pattern repeated at Euro 2024.

At the 2026 World Cup in North America, Ronaldo scored three goals, including his first and only World Cup knockout goal, and became the first player to score at six editions of the tournament. Portugal lost to Spain, the eventual champions, in the last 16. This year Ronaldo said that winning Euro 2016 was as important to him as a World Cup would have been.

Tributes and criticism

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said few players have touched the hearts of football fans like Ronaldo. His career has also drawn criticism. Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag told The Athletic that Ronaldo skipped training sessions during his second spell at the club and did not work hard enough when he trained. Former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher criticised Ronaldo's conduct on The Overlap podcast.