Cristiano Ronaldo retired from international football on 5 November 2026. The 41-year-old left the Portugal squad after 234 caps and 146 goals, both men’s world records, and a 30-day suspension for walking out of a training camp in September. He has not retired from football and still plays for Al-Nassr.
Has Ronaldo Retired From Football Altogether?
No. The retirement applies to the Portugal national team only, and he remains a Saudi Pro League player.
He announced it in a video message on social media, opening with a line aimed at his own country: “To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team.” Nothing in the message said he was giving up club football.
He has hinted that the end is near without committing to it. Asked about his future, he said, “This is probably my last year of football”, which points to the 2026-27 season being his last. That remains unconfirmed.
When Did Ronaldo Last Play for Portugal?
On 24 September 2026, in a 1-0 home win over Wales in the Nations League. That match, not the World Cup and not the retirement video, was the last time he appeared in a Portugal shirt.
The gap matters because his exit was not a farewell game. He was an unused substitute in a 2-1 away win over Norway on 27 September, then left the squad entirely, so the Wales match became his 234th and final cap by accident rather than by plan. His career ended with a dated, verifiable last appearance, unlike players who simply stop being selected, as happened with Diego Costa, whose last game was in December 2024.
Why Did He Leave the Portugal Squad?
A dispute over playing time with Jorge Jesus, who became Portugal’s coach after the 2026 World Cup. Ronaldo walked out of the national team camp on 30 September 2026, before a Nations League fixture against Denmark.
The two accounts of what was agreed do not match:
- Ronaldo’s version: he said Jesus twice broke his word over a plan to manage his fitness across the Norway and Denmark matches.
- Jesus’s version: he denied making any such agreement, and said Ronaldo would be welcome back and that the decision was his own.
In the retirement video itself, Ronaldo gave no reason and did not mention the coach. He framed the decision as generational, saying the time had come to pass the shirt on to the future, and called it a decision that was not easy. He also said of the number, “I never felt it belonged to me alone but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it.”
What Was the 30-Day Suspension For?
Abandoning national team activity, which is a disciplinary offence under the Portuguese federation’s own rules. The walkout, not anything that happened on the pitch, triggered it.
The federation’s disciplinary council announced its ruling on 19 October 2026, upholding the charge in full:
- The sanction: a 30-day suspension plus a fine of 255 euros, about 285 US dollars.
- The rule applied: Article 160(1) of the federation’s disciplinary regulations, which the council found he had intentionally breached.
- The range available: one to six months for a player who abandons national team activity, so 30 days sat at the bottom of it.
He had already been under an automatic provisional suspension earlier in October while the case was treated as urgent. Ronaldo apologised, acknowledged that being captain counted against him as an aggravating factor, and said he would accept the final ruling without reservation. The retirement followed 17 days after the ruling.
Where Is Cristiano Ronaldo Now?
As of 11 November 2026 he is still contracted to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, still captain, and still chasing a round number. A hat-trick in a 5-3 win over Al Kholood on 29 October 2026 took him to 985 career goals, 15 short of 1,000, though one of those goals is subject to a pending league ruling on whether it should be recorded as an own goal.
His next scheduled club fixture is against Al-Qadsiah on 20 November 2026. His contract runs into 2027, with reports differing on whether it ends in June or July, and no extension has been confirmed either way.
He is also moving into production. His first television series, Day 1s, has entered production, adding to off-pitch ventures that already include a record-breaking YouTube launch.
The Records He Leaves Behind
His Portugal career ran 23 years, from his debut on 20 August 2003 to that Wales match in September 2026. Several of the numbers are not merely Portuguese records but world records in the men’s game.
| Record | Figure |
|---|---|
| Portugal appearances | 234, the most in men’s international football |
| International goals | 146, a men’s world record |
| International wins | 141 |
| European Championship appearances | 30, the most by any player |
| European Championship goals | 14, the most by any player |
| World Cup goals for Portugal | 11, passing Eusebio’s 9 |
| World Cups scored in | 6, the first man to do so |
| Consecutive years scoring | 23, from 2004 to 2026 |
He won three trophies with Portugal: the European Championship in 2016 and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025. The one gap is the World Cup. His sixth and final attempt ended on 6 July 2026, when Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16 in Arlington, Texas, with Mikel Merino scoring in stoppage time.
Who Takes the Number 7 Shirt?
Portugal has not named a successor. Ronaldo said he would hand the shirt back after the November international break rather than pass it to a specific player.
The federation’s response was warmer than the preceding six weeks might suggest. It expressed “deep gratitude and immense admiration”, called him the greatest player of all time, and said it intends to organise a tribute so supporters can applaud him once more. No date for that tribute has been announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Cristiano Ronaldo Retired From Football?
Not from club football. He stepped away from the Portugal national team on 5 November 2026 and continues to play for Al-Nassr.
How Many Goals Did Ronaldo Score for Portugal?
146 goals in 234 appearances. Both figures are records for men’s international football.
Why Was Ronaldo Suspended by Portugal?
For leaving a national team camp on 30 September 2026. The federation’s disciplinary council banned him for 30 days and fined him 255 euros, about 285 US dollars.
How Close Is Ronaldo to 1,000 Career Goals?
He reached 985 on 29 October 2026, leaving him 15 away. One of those goals is under review by the Saudi Pro League and could be reassigned as an own goal.
Will Ronaldo Play at Another World Cup?
No. The 2026 tournament was his sixth and last, and he has now ended his international career, so Portugal will go to the next World Cup without him.
