Ronaldo quits international football. Watch his first and last goals for Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo was 19 when he rose to meet a Luís Figo corner and headed in his first goal for Portugal. Twenty-two years later, he has announced his international retirement with 146 goals to his name, the most recent a penalty that dragged Portugal level against Croatia in a World Cup knockout match.
In his farewell video on Thursday, Ronaldo recalled looking up during the national anthem and seeing children, parents and grandparents in the stands, some of whom were far from home.
«The day has come for me to hand back the number seven shirt of our national team,» he said. He has worn Portugal’s colours 234 times, more than any other player in men’s international football.
His most recent appearance came in a 1–0 win over Wales in September. Reuters reported that he would step down after the November international break, with Portugal’s squad for the games against Denmark and Wales due to be named on Friday.
First goal: A stoppage-time header against Greece
Ronaldo came on at half-time in the opening match of Euro 2004 in Porto on 12 June. He conceded the penalty that put Greece 2–0 up, then rose to head in Figo’s corner in the 93rd minute. Portugal lost 2–1. Three weeks later, the teams met again in the final and Greece won 1–0.
Zoom in: How Portugal marked Ronaldo’s two decades with the national team
Goal No. 146: A World Cup equaliser against Croatia
Portugal were a goal down in their World Cup round-of-32 tie in Toronto on 2 July 2026 when Ronaldo stepped up in the 68th minute. He beat Dominik Livaković from the spot for his first World Cup knockout goal. Gonçalo Ramos headed in the winner in stoppage time to make it 2–1. Ronaldo’s penalty was his 11th World Cup goal and remains his most recent for Portugal.
Look back: Ronaldo in tears as Spain knock Portugal out of the World Cup
«Thank you for everything, captain,» Portugal’s national team wrote on Instagram. The Portuguese Football Federation said it wanted to organise a tribute so that supporters could applaud Ronaldo one last time.
«This will always be your home,» the federation told him.
