Cristiano Ronaldo retires from Portugal national team after rift with coach Jorge Jesus

Cristiano Ronaldo has ended his Portugal career after 23 years, announcing his retirement from international soccer on Thursday, Nov. 5, weeks after a public falling-out with national team coach Jorge Jesus.

The 41-year-old forward leaves with 146 goals in 234 games for Portugal. Both totals are records for men's international soccer. His announcement came one day before Jesus was scheduled to name his squad for upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Denmark and in Wales.

Ronaldo shared the news in a video message on social media, saying he was giving up a jersey he had never considered his alone. He said "the day has come to hand back the number seven shirt" and added, "I never felt it was exclusively mine."

"It was not an easy decision," he said, explaining that some choices are made with the heart as well as the head.

Trouble began during the October international window, when Jesus started limiting the forward's minutes during Portugal's Nations League schedule. On Oct. 4, Ronaldo stayed on the bench for the full match in a 2-1 win in Norway. It was the first time in 18 years he had been an unused substitute for Portugal.

He then left the team's training camp on his private jet. In an open letter afterward, he explained his decision and apologized to fans and teammates, and he said he wanted to keep playing for the national team. The letter did not mention Jesus, and Ronaldo did not apologize to the coach.

The Portuguese federation suspended him for 30 days and imposed what ESPN described as a nominal fine. The ban had ended in time for him to be selected for the November matches against Denmark and Wales.

His final appearance for Portugal came Sept. 24, when Portugal beat Wales 1-0 in a Nations League match in Lisbon.

In an interview with Canal 11, Jesus said he was disappointed but had to respect the captain's choice. "It's entirely his decision," he said.

Jesus said he and Ronaldo talked about the player's international future in September, before the coach's first squad announcement and before their dispute. "I asked him to stay on with me because I needed him by my side," Jesus said. "But I have to accept his decision."

The two have a history at club level. Jesus coached Ronaldo for a year at Al Nassr and led the club to the Saudi Pro League title last season, Ronaldo's first in that league. Jesus took charge of Portugal after the team was knocked out of the 2026 World Cup in the round of 16, succeeding Roberto Martinez.

The coach called Ronaldo "a global icon, a Portuguese icon, and an icon of the national team" and said he would always be a legend of Portuguese soccer. Jesus also said most of the forward's fans are young people. He said he had a large picture of Ronaldo put up in an auditorium used every day by young people and colleagues.

Ronaldo's Portugal career began in August 2003. He captained the team to the Euro 2016 title and to Nations League championships in 2019, the competition's first edition, and 2025. In the Euro 2016 final against France in Paris, he was injured early and spent much of the game shouting instructions from the touchline.

Portugal had qualified for only three World Cups and three European Championships before his debut. During his international career the team never missed a major tournament, reaching six of each. This summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico was his sixth. He scored twice against Uzbekistan before Spain eliminated Portugal in the round of 16.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner broke the men's international scoring record held by Iran's Ali Daei, who had 108 goals. Ronaldo's first and last goals for Portugal came 22 years apart. His longtime rival Lionel Messi, who retired from Argentina's national team last month, finished 20 goals behind him and second in appearances with 208. With Messi gone, no active player has reached 100 international goals. Belgium's Romelu Lukaku has 94, Poland's Robert Lewandowski has 92 and England's Harry Kane has 91. Croatia's Luka Modric, with 206 caps, and Qatar's Hassan Al-Haydos, with 193, are the closest active players to his appearance record.

His later years with Portugal were more difficult. He scored once at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and was dropped by coach Fernando Santos, then went without a goal at Euro 2024 under Martinez. In an analysis, ESPN argued that Jesus was right to start planning without Ronaldo. The outlet pointed to a squad with Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Joao Neves, Pedro Neto, Vitinha and Nuno Mendes, and said the forward's age had become a burden for the team.

In his farewell, Ronaldo acknowledged failures and defeats that he said still hurt to remember. He said he never stopped being proud to represent his country. "Goals come and go, trophies end up in museums, and records are eventually broken," he said. "No captain walks alone and you're all part of my story."