After 23 years in Portugal’s colours, the No. 7 is ready to pass to someone else.
At Portugal’s next match, the anthem will sound the same. The familiar colours will come out of the tunnel. For a moment, some of us will still look for Cristiano Ronaldo.
On 5 November 2026, Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football at the age of 41. He made 234 appearances and scored 146 goals for Portugal, both records in the men’s international game. He will continue playing club football for Al Nassr. The farewell belongs to Portugal, and to a shirt he first wore in 2003. FIFA World Cup
The night Portugal won without him on the pitch
One of the clearest pictures of Ronaldo’s Portugal career comes from a match he could barely play. In the Euro 2016 final against France, an injury forced him off in the first half. By extra time he was on the touchline, gesturing and urging his teammates on. When Éder struck from distance to give Portugal their first major trophy, Ronaldo could only watch, like everyone else. UEFA
For years, so much of watching Portugal meant waiting to see what Ronaldo would do. That evening, the decisive moment belonged to Éder. There is something lovely about that being part of Ronaldo’s story, too. He captained Portugal to two more trophies, the Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025, but the image of him on the touchline still tells you how much the first one meant. FIFA World Cup
Six World Cups and one trophy out of reach
Ronaldo scored at his first World Cup in 2006. Twenty years later, he scored three times at the 2026 tournament, becoming the first man to find the net at six editions. His last World Cup ended with a 1–0 defeat to Spain in the round of 16. The trophy stayed out of reach. FIFA World Cup
Twenty years is long enough for a child who watched that first World Cup to have a child of their own watching the sixth. The player changed in between. The young winger who wanted the ball at his feet became a forward who could do his most important work before the ball arrived, finding a pocket of space while a defender was still looking over his shoulder.
The next time Portugal play
Someone else will wear the seven. There will be a first goal in a big game that belongs to a player some young supporter is only just learning to watch. In time, that will feel ordinary.
For now, I keep coming back to the seconds before a cross. The ball goes wide, the defender turns his head, and Ronaldo has already begun to move. You could watch Portugal for years and still find yourself leaning forward at that moment. I suspect I’ll do it once more, out of habit, the next time the ball goes wide.
Author: swoosh0018
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