Verified: November 6, 2026, at 5:07 a.m. UTC (UTC+00:00).
Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international soccer, but he has not retired from playing altogether. The Portugal forward announced the end of his national-team career on November 5, 2026; he will continue playing club soccer for Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, according to FIFA.
The decision closes a 23-year international career that included a European Championship title and men’s world records for appearances and goals. For fans wondering whether they will see Ronaldo play again, the distinction is that his Portugal career is over, while his club career continues.
Ronaldo announced his decision in a video, saying it was time to pass Portugal’s No. 7 shirt on to the future. FIFA reported that he described the choice as difficult and reflected on the responsibility of representing his country for 23 years. He did not set out a detailed timetable for ending his club career in that announcement.
The announcement followed a long period of questions about how much longer the 41-year-old would play internationally. After Portugal’s exit from the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo said that tournament had been his last World Cup. That statement concerned the competition; his November announcement went further by ending his Portugal career entirely. FIFA’s account of his World Cup farewell records the earlier distinction.
It is reasonable to expect Portugal to move forward without its longtime captain, but the announcement does not establish who will inherit every part of his role. Team selection and captaincy decisions remain matters for the national team.
Yes. FIFA reported when Ronaldo announced his international retirement that he would continue with Al Nassr. He joined the Saudi club after leaving Manchester United at the end of 2022, beginning a new chapter outside European club soccer.
In June 2025, Al Nassr announced a two-year extension keeping him at the club until 2027, as reported by the Asian Football Confederation. A contract end date is not itself a retirement announcement: a player’s plans can change, and Ronaldo has not confirmed the date of his last club match.
He has spoken about the possibility that the end is near. In an August 2026 interview, he said it was probably his last year of soccer, according to Reuters reporting carried by GMA News. The word “probably” matters: it was an indication of his thinking, not a firm retirement date.
Ronaldo made his senior Portugal debut against Kazakhstan in August 2003. He went on to become the central figure in a national-team career spanning more than two decades, finishing with 234 caps and 146 goals. FIFA identifies both figures as records in men’s international soccer.
His team honors include the 2016 European Championship and the UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. Portugal’s Euro 2016 victory was especially significant: it was the country’s first major men’s international title. Ronaldo captained the side, although injury forced him off during the final against France.
He also scored at six World Cups, a men’s first, according to FIFA. He scored 11 goals across those tournaments, including three at the 2026 finals. Portugal did not win a World Cup during his career; its 2026 campaign ended against Spain in the round of 16.
Ronaldo began his senior club career at Sporting CP before joining Manchester United in 2003. He developed into a leading scorer during his first spell in England and won his first UEFA Champions League title with United in 2008.
He moved to Real Madrid in 2009, then to Juventus in 2018. A return to Manchester United followed in 2021 before his move to Al Nassr. Those stops give his career a wide geographical range: Portugal, England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia.
His European club record remains a major part of his legacy. UEFA credits Ronaldo with 140 Champions League goals and five titles: one with Manchester United and four with Real Madrid. Those figures refer to the Champions League competition, rather than every match or goal in his club career.
For now, the next chapter is at club level. Ronaldo can continue adding to his overall scoring total with Al Nassr, while Portugal prepares for international matches without him. The Associated Press counted 985 senior goals for club and country when it reported his Portugal retirement on November 5; that figure can change as he continues to play. His stated ambition of reaching 1,000 would therefore depend on future goals, not a guaranteed outcome.
His comments about a possible final year and the 2027 contract give fans context, but neither establishes an exact farewell date. Any definitive answer about retirement from all soccer will require a further announcement.
No. He has retired from Portugal’s national team and continues his club career with Al Nassr.
He finished with 146 goals in 234 senior appearances, according to FIFA.
He said the 2026 tournament was his last World Cup, and he has since retired from international soccer.
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