05.11.2026 13:50
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the legendary names of world football, announced that he has ended his 23-year career with the Portuguese national team. The 41-year-old star, who published an emotional farewell message on his social media account, said, "Today my journey on the field with the national team comes to an end." Ronaldo, who appeared in 234 matches and scored 146 goals in the Portugal shirt, drew attention with his words: "The number 7 shirt will stay here, and the pride of having worn it will remain with me forever."
Cristiano Ronaldo, regarded as one of the greatest names in football history, announced that he has bid farewell to the Portugal national team. The star footballer, who leaves behind a 23-year journey with the national jersey he first wore in August 2003, made a long and emotional statement on his social media account. In his message, in which he described the victories and defeats he experienced throughout his career and the bond he established with the Portuguese people, Ronaldo thanked his teammates, his family, and the fans who supported him.
“THE TIME HAS COME TO PASS THE NUMBER 7 SHIRT ON TO THE FUTURE”
Ronaldo used the following words in his farewell message:
“The day has come for all of us to give back the number 7 shirt of our national team. I never felt that this shirt belonged only to me. But for 23 years, I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it, and taking it to stadiums all over the world. Today, the moment has come to pass it on to the future. This was not an easy decision. Because some decisions are made not only with the mind but also with the heart. A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever is coming to an end.
When I look back and think about what I experienced with the national team, I do not see only matches, goals, records, or trophies. I see people. I see expatriates who feel Portugal a little closer for 90 minutes. I see millions of Portuguese whom I have never personally met, but who are part of my life. Because in the end, football is much more than a game. Football is people. ”
“I NEVER GAVE UP”
Ronaldo, who touched on the disappointments as well as the successes he experienced in his national team career, continued his statement as follows:
“Throughout my entire career with the national team, I tried to push my limits. I wanted to win, I wanted to be the best, I wanted to go down in history. I was always demanding of myself. I always wanted more, I always believed we could go further. And I gave everything I could for this shirt.
There were perfect afternoons and nights, victories I will never forget, defeats that even today I find hard to remember. I failed too, I suffered, and there were moments when I could not give the Portuguese the thing they wanted so much. But I never gave up. And above all, I never lost the pride I felt in representing Portugal.
Over these years, I learned very simple things: goals pass, trophies remain in museums, records are eventually broken. But there is one thing time can never erase: the place we occupy in people's hearts. ”
“IF I MADE YOU HAPPY EVEN ONCE, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT”
Addressing the Portuguese people, Ronaldo emphasized football's unifying power over people:
“If I made you happy even once, if thanks to a goal I scored you hugged someone, forgot a worry, or felt proud of our country, then it was all worth it. Because this is what it means to be Portuguese. Together we suffer, together we rise, together we believe again.
Portugal will always need young people who dream, players who never give up, and new generations who believe it is possible to reach places no one has reached. Because a country that continues to create new heroes is a country that never loses faith in itself. ”
HE THANKED HIS TEAMMATES AND HIS FAMILY
Ronaldo also did not forget the teammates and national team staff with whom he fought side by side for years:
“I want to leave a special message for my national team teammates. Thank you for every run, every embrace, every argument, every silence before stepping onto the pitch, every victory we celebrated together, and every defeat that made us stronger. I had the privilege of being your captain, but no captain walks alone. And you are part of my story.
I thank all the coaches, directors, doctors, physiotherapists, kit managers, staff, and the many people who worked with me over these years. Many of you never appeared in the photos, but without you none of these photos could have been taken.
To my family, thank you for sharing this dream with me. I am far away; thank you for understanding my sacrifices and the moments when the national team had to occupy a place in my life that belonged to you. The reason I was able to come this far was that we always held hands. ”
“THERE IS ONLY ONE PASSION: PORTUGAL”
Explaining what wearing the Portugal national team shirt means to him, the star footballer stated that he will never forget the moments when the national anthem was sung:
“And to the Portuguese. I want to say one last thing to all the Portuguese scattered around the world. There is an image I will always carry with me: the moment the national anthem begins. I look around, I see my teammates, I see the stands, I see children, mothers, fathers, and grandmothers, I see Portuguese who have come from far away just to be there. And during those minutes, our differences disappear. There are no clubs, no colors, no classes, no professions, no opinions. There is only one passion: Portugal.
This is the feeling I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Today, my journey on the field with the national team comes to an end. I leave with my head held high, proud of the path I have taken and aware that I gave everything I could for Portugal. But I will never stop being one of you. I will continue to experience, get excited about, and celebrate every victory of Portugal together with you. ”
“MY GREATEST VICTORY WAS REPRESENTING PORTUGAL”
Ronaldo concluded his historic farewell message with these words:
“Throughout my life, I worked to become the best footballer in the world. Today I understand that my greatest victory was being deemed worthy to represent the best country in the world. Thank you for these 23 years. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for allowing me to live a dream that began when I was just a boy chasing the ball in Madeira. The number 7 shirt will stay here, and the pride of having worn it will be with me forever. Portugal will always be in my heart. Goodbye. "
SCORED 146 GOALS IN 234 MATCHES
Cristiano Ronaldo, who first wore the Portugal national team jersey in 2003, appeared in 234 matches and scored 146 goals during his 23-year national team career. The star footballer holds the titles of both the player with the most appearances and the top scorer at national team level.
WON THREE TROPHIES WITH PORTUGAL
Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d'Or five times in his career, achieved a historic success with the Portugal national team at the 2016 European Championship. The star footballer, who played an important role in his country's first European championship, also experienced UEFA Nations League triumph twice. Ronaldo thus completed his national team career with three trophies.
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