Ronaldo Bids Farewell to Portugal, Records Remain but Bitterness Overshadows

Cristiano Ronaldo has been making headlines in the Portugal shirt for more than twenty years. The 41-year-old announced his retirement from the national team on social media rather than in a stadium's applause. The statement came in the shadow of his disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus.

Jesus's decision not to play Ronaldo in the match against Norway exposed the tension between the player's ambitions and Portugal's changing needs. The split was bitter. However, Ronaldo's achievements are not up for debate. Ronaldo made 234 appearances and scored 146 goals. Both figures are men's national team records.

Portugal won their first major trophy at the 2016 European Championship. They claimed the Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. Ronaldo's national team career began against Kazakhstan in 2003, when he was 18 years old. In 2004, host Portugal lost to Greece in the European Championship final.

Ronaldo's greatest moment came in the 2016 final against France. However, he was injured early, left the pitch in tears, and watched much of Portugal's title triumph from the sidelines. He became the first player to score in six different tournaments and finished his career with 11 goals in tournaments. His personal records, however, never turned into the trophy he was seeking.