Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old Portuguese football icon, has announced his retirement from the Portugal national team. The decision, revealed in a social media post on Thursday, brings a close to one of the most decorated international careers in the sport's history.

Ronaldo stated that the decision was not solely based on logic but also on "heart," expressing that his time representing Portugal had been "worth it" if he had brought happiness to fans. His announcement marks the end of a tenure that began over two decades ago.

In his statement, Ronaldo conveyed his gratitude to his family, the Portuguese people, and all the teammates, coaches, and staff he has worked with. He emphasized that "Portugal will always be a part of me." The Portuguese football federation responded with a statement of "deep gratitude and immense admiration" for his contributions.

The federation acknowledged Ronaldo's role in elevating Portugal's profile and inspiring future generations, calling him "the greatest player of all time" for many. They also announced plans for a tribute event to allow fans and the country to celebrate his achievements.

Ronaldo's international career is marked by numerous records. He holds the all-time records for international appearances, with 234, and international goals, having scored 146 times for Portugal. He captained the team to their historic first major trophy at Euro 2016 and was instrumental in their victories in the 2019 and 2025 Nations Leagues.

His final match for Portugal was a 1-0 victory against Wales in the Nations League on September 24. Following that game, coach Jorge Jesus opted to bench him for the subsequent match, a decision that reportedly led to Ronaldo leaving the team's training camp. Jesus had indicated he did not plan to start Ronaldo in the next fixture, leaving the decision to return up to the player.

Despite his international retirement, Ronaldo, like his longtime peer Lionel Messi, is expected to continue playing at the club level. He is currently with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr and is nearing his 1,000th career goal, having scored 985 as of his announcement.

The Portuguese football federation has indicated its intention to organize a tribute for Ronaldo, allowing fans and the nation to collectively acknowledge his immense contributions to Portuguese football and international sport.