Cristiano Ronaldo announces he is leaving the Portugal national team

The announcement

Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Thursday, 5 November, that he is leaving the Portugal national team, posting a video on social media addressed to Portuguese fans. He said the day had come to return the number 7 shirt and pass it on to the future. El Mundo reports that he will return the shirt after the November international break. Since his debut in August 2003, he has played 234 matches and scored 146 goals for Portugal, and he holds the national team records for appearances and goals. The announcement came on the eve of the squad call-up for the next two Nations League matches.

He described the decision as an emotional one that took account of more than reason.

“Not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not taken only with the head, they are also taken with the heart.”

Rift with Jorge Jesus

The break followed a dispute that erupted in late September. Ronaldo had been presented alongside new coach Jorge Jesus days earlier and said he would accept whatever role the coach gave him. During Portugal's 1-2 win over Norway in Oslo he did not play a minute, despite a half hour of warm-up, and he walked off the pitch with visible displeasure while team-mates celebrated with fans. He then stopped attending training. El País reports that he later accused Jesus of lying. According to RTP and A Bola, federation president Pedro Proença travelled urgently to Copenhagen, where the squad had gone, to meet Jesus and Ronaldo, but the summit did little more than paper over the rift. Reports describe Ronaldo then leaving the squad camp early and without permission.

His farewell message

In the video Ronaldo framed his departure as personal. When he looks back on his time with the squad, he said, he sees people rather than only games, goals, records or trophies.

“Football is much bigger than a game: it is the people.”

He acknowledged that he had failed, suffered, and at times been unable to give Portuguese fans what they wanted, but he said he never gave up. Notícias ao Minuto reports that he described leaving with his head held high. He also thanked the fans who, in his words, felt Portugal a little closer during matches, including emigrants who followed games abroad.

What comes next

The announcement sets the terms of his exit: the shirt goes back after the November international break, so the handover follows the squad's upcoming fixtures. The message was published on social media shortly before the squad list for two Nations League matches was due. Ronaldo's final call-up decision and any formal statement from the Portuguese federation were not reported in the articles available at the time of writing.