Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced his retirement from international football , leaving a massive void in the essence of the game. The 41-year-old declared his retirement with an Instagram post,
and the football world was stunned to hear the news. His retirement came as a shock to everyone, as he was reportedly set to undergo a mandatory suspension period before his return to the national side.
Ronaldo was also set to play the match against Denmark, and the fans were eager to see their idol back in national colours on November 15th. The Portugal side could be navigating a difficult path in their future without the presence of their best player.
The veteranβs tenure with the national team has been the greatest international career ever for a Portuguese player. Ronaldo has been an integral part of the squad for a couple of decades, and he has helped them achieve greatness with silverware.
Top Five Moments of Cristiano Ronaldoβs International Career
Cristiano Ronaldoβs international career with Portugal spanned 23 years, and he scored 146 goals in 234 appearances and won multiple major trophies. The Al Nassr forward has had several iconic moments with the national side, and here are the top 5 greatest moments of his career.
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Ronaldo helped deliver some of the greatest nights in Portuguese football history β¨
Three trophies, endless memories and a place in his countryβs heart forever π΅πΉ https://t.co/WNfz1mykIa
β 433 (@433) November 5, 2026
5) Inaugural Nations League glory, 2019
In the 2019 Nations League, Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the best players in the Portugal side as he helped the side secure a 3-1 win against Switzerland in the Semi-Finals. He scored a brilliant hat-trick in the same game, and he went on to captain the side to a 1-0 victory against the Netherlands in the final. Cristiano Ronaldo went on to lift his second major international trophy in front of the fans in Porto, and it was an important moment in his career.
4)World Cup play-off vs. Sweden, 2013
The 2014 World Cup qualification went right down to the wire as Ronaldoβs Portugal and Ibrahimovicβs Sweden went head-to-head. In the return leg fixture of the game, Portugal were leading on aggregate by a goal but Ibrahimovic scored twice for Sweden to give them the lead. However, in the second half of the game, Ronaldo answered back with a brilliant hat-trick to give the side the lead. He then led the Portugal side to a 3-2 win against Sweden, and they secured their spot in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
3)All-time menβs goal-scoring record, 2021
In 2021, Portugal were scheduled to play the Republic of Ireland in a World Cup qualifier game, and that gave Ronaldo the chance to break the all-time goal-scoring record. He was tied with the Iranian legend Ali Daei on 109 international goals. But things didnβt go as planned, as Ronaldo missed a penalty early in the game, and Portugal were trailing by a goal. The relentless mentality of the veteran was on display once again as he scored two towering headers to break the goal-scoring record and to help Portugal win the game.
2)World Cup hat-trick vs. Spain, 2018
In the 2018 FIFA World Cup group stage, an iconic match unfolded between Spain and Portugal, and it was perhaps one of the greatest group stage fixtures in history. Ronaldo single-handedly carried Portugal to a 3-3 draw with a terrific hat-trick, and he opened his scoring with a penalty. Later on, in the dying moments of the game, the Portuguese forward scored a stunning free-kick against Spain and helped the side level the game. This 2018 World Cup fixture was by far one of the most entertaining matches that ended in a draw.
1)Euro 2016 triumph
The Euro 2016 triumph would be the greatest achievement of Cristiano Ronaldo as captain of Portugal, and it was their first silverware in a long time. Portugal took on France in the final of Euro 2016, and it was an equal contest between the two heavyweights. Ronaldo was later subbed off due to injury, and he carried on along the sidelines as coach of the side. Later, Γder went on to score the historic 109th-minute winner against host nation France. That goal helped Portugal secure their first-ever major trophy, and Ronaldo was overwhelmed with the achievement.
