Alex Kirkland Nov 5, 2026, 06:00 AM ET

Editor's note: This has been updated after Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international soccer on Nov. 5, 2026.

Was it always going to end like this? Cristiano Ronaldo -- Portugal 's greatest-ever player, who led them to victory at the 2016 UEFA European Championship , and won the UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d'Or five times in a glittering club career -- has called time on his international career .

Ronaldo, 41, walked away from the national team's camp last month after a row with coach Jorge Jesus. The Portugal boss insisted there was "no issue," but admitted mistakes in his handling of Ronaldo's role in the 2-1 win over Norway in the UEFA Nations League on Sept. 27, when he was an unused substitute.

Despite it seeming as though the coach and his captain had patched things up, Ronaldo confirmed Thursday that he has played his last game for Portugal.…