Ronaldo in records: International milestones from the football icon
Anushe Engineer
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has announced his retirement from international football after a 23-year Portugal career spanning six World Cups and six European Championships. He retires as the all-time record holder for international appearances (234) and goals (146), having captained Portugal to Euro 2016 and Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football, where he has left an indelible mark as one of the sport’s greatest players.
The 41-year-old, who has played 234 times for Portugal and scored 146 goals, holds the all-time record for international appearances and international goals.
He ended an illustrious 23-year career that spanned six World Cups and six European Championships.
When did Ronaldo make his debut for Portugal?
Ronaldo made his senior debut for Portugal aged 18 in a friendly against Kazakhstan, coming on as a half-time substitute for Luis Figo.
He wore a number 17 jersey at the time since 7 was claimed by Figo. It was only after Figo’s retirement in 2006 that Ronaldo staked claim to the jersey full-time and made it synonymous with his brand CR7.
When did Ronaldo play his last match for Portugal?
Ronaldo’s last appearance for Portugal was on September 24 in a 1-0 win over Wales, where he was substituted in the 67th minute.
Coach Jorge Jesus’s decision to keep him on the bench in the following match was a catalyst for the explosive falling out and subsequent departure from national duty, for which he was suspended for 30 days and fined 255 euros ($285).
Will Ronaldo play any more matches?
Ronaldo has a final chance to upgrade his international statistics when Portugal, who top Nations League Group A4, host second second-placed Denmark on November 14 in Braga before visiting Wales in their final two group games.
Over on the club side, his next match with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League is on November 20 against Al-Qadsiah.
What records does Ronaldo hold with Portugal?
Ronaldo has an encyclopaedia worth of records in football, most notably as the world’s all-time international goalscorer (146 goals) and the most capped international player (234 appearances).
He has scored for Portugal in 23 consecutive calendar years (2004-2026) and is the country’s top scorer at the World Cup with 11 goals in 27 tournament games.
The statistics do not do justice to how Ronaldo helped Portugal reach new heights and make the European nation a regular presence at major tournaments.
He captained Portugal to its first major title at Euro 2016, followed by the Nations League trophy in 2019 and 2025.
Under his watch, Portugal qualified for the World Cup every single time; prior to that they had only reached the tournaments in 1966, 1986, and 2002.
Similarly, at the Euros, Portugal had appeared only three times before Ronaldo: 1984, 1996 and 2000. After he arrived, they qualified for every edition.
What international records does Ronaldo have?
Ronaldo became the first player to reach 200 men’s international appearances when he played against Iceland in a 2024 UEFA Euro qualifying match.
He was also the first player to score 100 international goals for a European national team. He became the first player to score 10 international hat-tricks, a record Lionel Messi eclipsed with 11 during Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria at the World Cup.
Last summer saw Ronaldo become the first player to both play and score in six different World Cups, starting with his debut against Angola in 2006 and scoring his first goal in the tournament against Iran. His final World Cup goal came from the penalty kick scored against Croatia in the round of 32 in 2026.
He also became the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout match, aged 41 years and 147 days.
On the European side, Ronaldo holds records for most European Championship tournaments played (6), most appearances (30), and most goals (14).
