Ronaldo retires from Portugal national team

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has announced his retirement from the Portugal national team, roughly a month after walking out of a training camp without authorization and triggering a major controversy.

Ronaldo made the announcement Thursday on Instagram. Major international wire services including AP, AFP and Reuters all broke the news simultaneously.

Ronaldo made his Portugal debut in 2003 at age 18 and went on to score 146 goals in 234 international appearances — all-time records in men's football for both categories.

A cornerstone of the Portugal squad for more than two decades, Ronaldo appeared in six World Cups and contributed to the team's victory at Euro 2016 and two UEFA Nations League titles.

Ronaldo had said the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America, which concluded last July, would be his last, but had stopped short of committing to a full international retirement.

After the World Cup, newly appointed coach Jorge Jesus called him up for the September–October international window, and Ronaldo was included in Portugal's UEFA Nations League squad.

He started Portugal's first Nations League match against Wales on Sept. 25 and played 67 minutes, but was left on the bench three days later for the second group game against Norway — a sign that Jesus was gradually phasing him out of his plans.

When Jesus announced Ronaldo would not start the third group match against Denmark, Ronaldo walked out of the training camp without permission.

In a lengthy post on social media afterward, Ronaldo claimed Jesus had broken promises to him on two separate occasions.

He also apologized to his teammates, though he insisted at the time that "my actions deserve to be punished, but I am not retiring from the national team."

The Football Federation of Portugal handed Ronaldo a 30-day suspension and a fine of 255 euros ($286) on Oct. 20 (Korean Standard Time).

The ban was applied retroactively and expired by the end of October, leaving no obstacle to his participation in the November international window. Jesus also left the door open, saying Ronaldo could return to the squad if he wished.

Ronaldo, however, chose to end his international career on his own terms.

Portugal secured a quarterfinal berth early after winning all four Nations League group matches without Ronaldo in September and October. The team will play its final two group games against Denmark on Nov. 15 and Wales on Nov. 18.