The Portuguese Football Federation has pledged to organise a special farewell tribute for Cristiano Ronaldo following the 41-year-old’s announcement of his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a historic 23-year career with the national team.
Federation president Pedro Proença described Ronaldo’s contribution as extraordinary, saying no tribute could fully repay what he had given Portuguese football, while promising to celebrate his legacy with the nation.
Ronaldo retires as Portugal’s most-capped player, with 234 appearances and a record 146 international goals.
He captained the country to its first European Championship title in 2016 and two Nations League triumphs in 2019 and 2025.
Meanwhile, head coach Jorge Jesus revealed he had personally asked Ronaldo to continue representing Portugal, admitting he needed the veteran forward by his side but had to respect his decision.
Speaking after naming his latest Nations League squad, Jesus said he had not anticipated the retirement, insisting Ronaldo remained in his plans until the announcement.
He also maintained that there were no hard feelings over their recent disagreement, saying all his decisions were made in the best interest of the team.
The announcement follows a fallout between both men over Ronaldo’s role in the squad, which saw the forward leave Portugal’s training camp in September.
Although the federation has promised a fitting celebration, it remains unclear whether Ronaldo will return for a formal farewell appearance.
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