Cristiano Ronaldo announces retirement from international football aged 41

5 November 2026 · Algeria Now

Photo : Анна Нэсси / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 41, bringing an end to a 23-year career with the national team.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner confirmed his decision in a five-minute video published on Instagram on Thursday, a month after leaving the squad following a conflict with manager Jorge Jesus.

During his international career, which began in 2003, Ronaldo scored 146 goals in 234 appearances and won three titles with Portugal, including the European Championship in 2016.

In his announcement, he stated that the time had come to hand over the number seven shirt to the next generation, describing the choice as a difficult decision made with both heart and mind after representing his country across the world.

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Cristiano Ronaldo announces retirement from international football aged 41

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