The moment has arrived that millions of Portuguese people knew would one day come, but few ever wanted to face. Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday, 5 November, the end of his historic journey with the Portuguese national team, bringing the curtain down on 23 years of dedication, triumphs and records that have defined an entire generation.
At 41, the Portuguese captain chose social media to announce one of the most significant decisions of his career. Rather than waiting for Jorge Jesus to unveil his squad on Friday, Ronaldo took the initiative, sharing an emotional farewell filled with gratitude and national pride.
The announcement came in a video lasting approximately five minutes, featuring the voice of Dulce Pontes and accompanied by the song O Amor a Portugal. In a message addressed to the Portuguese people, Ronaldo revisited the memories of a bond that transcended football and became one of the most powerful symbols of Portugal's sporting identity.
The statistics offer some measure of the scale of his legacy: 234 international appearances, 146 goals and three trophies won while wearing Portugal's colours. Among them were the 2016 European Championship, Portugal's first major international triumph, and the UEFA Nations League titles of 2019 and 2025.
The journey began in August 2003, when a young footballer from Madeira took his first steps with a national side that he would help transform into one of the great powers of world football over the following two decades.
Now, that same player has decided to pass the number 7 shirt on to future generations.
In his farewell message, Cristiano Ronaldo acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, reflected on moments of glory and heartbreak, and thanked his team-mates, coaches, the professionals who had supported him throughout his career and his family. He reserved particularly heartfelt words for Portuguese people living around the world.
Beyond the titles and records, the forward emphasised the human connection forged through football: the happiness brought to millions of supporters, the embraces sparked by his goals and the sense of unity felt whenever the national anthem echoed around stadiums.
The captain also stressed that no career is built without sacrifices, mistakes or defeats, insisting that even during the most difficult moments, he had never stopped feeling proud to represent Portugal.
His farewell follows weeks of tension surrounding his future with the national team, after his exclusion from the training camp and public disagreements with national team manager Jorge Jesus. As recently as October, Ronaldo had expressed his willingness to play for Portugal again. The decision announced now closes that possibility as a player.
However, his message was not solely a reflection on the past. Cristiano Ronaldo also looked towards the future, urging Portugal to continue believing in its young talent and in its ability to develop new generations of players capable of achieving historic success.
The man who carried the responsibility of leading Portugal on the pitch for more than two decades departs convinced that the greatest triumph of his career cannot be measured solely by the trophies he won, but by the privilege of having represented his country.
The number 7 shirt will now have a new owner. The history Cristiano Ronaldo wrote while wearing it will remain one of the most remarkable chapters in Portuguese football.
The farewell message
In the statement shared on social media, Cristiano Ronaldo addressed the Portuguese people directly, reflecting on the 23 years he spent representing the national team.
His statement began with an acknowledgement that the time had come to hand back the shirt that had accompanied him throughout almost his entire international career: "To the Portuguese people, the day has come to hand back the number 7 shirt of the national team that belongs to us all. I never felt it was mine alone. But for 23 years, I had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me to stadiums all over the world."
The Portuguese international explained that the decision had not been taken lightly, acknowledging the emotional weight of stepping away from a mission to which he had devoted much of his life.
Looking back on the journey that began in 2003, he placed particular emphasis on the people he had met and those who had followed his achievements, even from afar. He spoke of Portuguese emigrants who found in the national team a connection to their homeland, of families who celebrated his goals and of supporters who shared moments of joy and heartbreak.
Ronaldo also acknowledged that his journey had not been defined solely by victories. There had been painful defeats, missed opportunities and occasions when he had failed to live up to expectations, but he insisted that he had always given everything for the national shirt.
He thanked his team-mates for their trust, the battles they had fought together and the triumphs they had achieved as a team. He extended his gratitude to coaches, officials, doctors, physiotherapists, kit managers and all the other professionals who had worked behind the scenes over the past two decades.
His family also received a special tribute, particularly for the sacrifices they had made and the time spent apart because of the demands of his career.
In one of the most emotional moments of the statement, the former captain recalled the instant when the national anthem begins to play before a match, describing it as an experience capable of bringing together Portuguese people from different backgrounds, generations and social circumstances.
He ended his message with a promise of enduring loyalty to his country: although he is stepping away from international football, he will continue to follow, support and celebrate the national team's victories.
"The number 7 shirt remains, and the pride of having worn it will be mine forever. Portugal will always be a part of me.
Farewell, forever. Cristiano Ronaldo."
With this farewell, one of the most extraordinary chapters in the history of Portuguese sport comes to a close. The young man who left Madeira dreaming of conquering the world bids farewell to the national team as the men's world record holder for international appearances and goals, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations.
