Cristiano Ronaldo decides to retire from international football

Portuguese newspaper "O Jogo" has revealed a stunning development regarding Cristiano Ronaldo's future with the Portugal national team, confirming that the captain has decided to retire from international play permanently, and that his journey in the national jersey has come to an end.

According to the report, the match that Cristiano Ronaldo played against Wales in the UEFA Nations League was his last with the Portugal national team, and the veteran star will not return to participate with the team in the upcoming period, in a decision that marks the end of a historic era in Portuguese football.

This development comes just hours after Cristiano Ronaldo officially announced his departure from the national team camp, following the press conference of coach Jorge Jesus and a conversation he had with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Pedro Proença.

Cristiano Ronaldo has left the Portugal camp after a dispute that began during the match against Norway, when he remained on the bench throughout the game despite warming up. Jesus later confirmed that the player was angry about not participating, and Ronaldo also missed group training in the following two days.

Cristiano Ronaldo started the international break as a starter against Wales, but he was substituted in the second half. Things took a surprising turn during the match against Norway, which opened the door to a growing crisis between the national team captain and the new coach.

During his international career, Cristiano Ronaldo has played 234 matches for Portugal and scored 146 goals, making him the record holder for appearances and goals at the men's national team level. He also won the UEFA European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.

If the retirement decision is confirmed, it will mark the end of one of the longest and most impactful international careers in football history, after Cristiano Ronaldo has worn the Portugal shirt for over two decades and achieved its most prestigious international titles.