Cristiano Ronaldo has been widely regarded as the greatest football icon of all time, and his retirement from international football would be tragic news for all fans. The Portuguese forward has accumulated
a lot of individual accolades and silverware across his football tenure. Even though Ronaldo came to the spotlight with his brilliant run of form at Manchester United, his journey extends a long way back. Ronaldo made his senior international debut at just 18 years old in Euro 2004, and he scored in his opening game against Greece. The youngster couldn’t handle the defeat in the final, and he wept on the pitch, forging a bond with the fans.
The Portuguese icon made his international debut under the captaincy of Luis Figo, and he was an exciting young talent ready to make his mark in the game. In Euro 2004, he played a key role for Portugal in the tournament, and he scored a fine goal against Greece as well. His consistent performances helped him earn a spot in the team along with legends such as Figo, Deco and Pauleta. Later, when the older generation of Portugal decided to step down, Ronaldo was handed the captain’s armband at just 22 years old in 2007.
🇵🇹 Portugal before Cristiano Ronaldo: 🏆 0 major international trophies
🇵🇹 Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo: 🏆 EURO 2016 🏆 Nations League 2019 🏆 Nations League 2025 https://t.co/x9U9CjspVt
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) November 5, 2026
Ronaldo leads Portugal to Euro 2016 and Nations League glory
Under the captaincy of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese side underwent a crucial period of transition, and they were criticised for their below-par performances. They faced early exits in the 2010 World Cup and the Euro 2012, leading to plenty of backlash from the experts. However, a huge turning point in Ronaldo’s career occurred in 2013, when he scored a legendary hat-trick against Sweden in the 2014 World Cup playoff fixture. It was a must-win clash for the side, and he helped Portugal secure a late comeback to seal their spot in the World Cup.
Then came the highlight moment of Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career as captain of Portugal with the Euro 2016 triumph. He was a terrific performer for the side as he scored crucial goals against Hungary and in the semi-finals; he scored against Wales as well. In the final against France, he was stretchered off just 25 minutes in with a severe knee injury. However, he continued to tactically help the side from the touchline, and he was very animated as well. In the 109th minute of the game, Eder scored the winning goal of the match that secured Portugal’s first-ever major international trophy.
Cristiano Ronaldo also captained the Portugal side to yet another trophy in 2019, in the inaugural edition of the Nations League. He scored one of his most iconic hat-tricks in the Semi-final against Switzerland, and he played a big hand in helping them secure the tie. In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo scored a breathtaking hat-trick against Spain, including a splendid hat-trick. In September 2021, Ronaldo scored two late headers against the Republic of Ireland to hit 111 goals, becoming the all-time leading goal-scorer in men’s international football history.
With the retirement of Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal would miss their successful captain in their future endeavours, as the veteran brings a lot of passion to the game. The veteran evolved into the greatest player Portugal has ever produced, and he has brought major trophies to the country as well. As the Portuguese icon bids farewell to the storied stage, Portugal would be looking to carry on the legacy of the No.7 shirt in the coming years.
