Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal legacy may never be matched – Infantino

Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football on Thursday, concluding a 23-year career with Portugal. At 41 years old, the player made the decision to return the No. 7 shirt after the November international break. Ronaldo expressed that the shirt symbolized not just his personal achievement but also the privilege and responsibility he carried as the highest goalscorer and most-capped player in men's international football for Portugal.

Throughout his international career spanning 234 appearances, Ronaldo scored 146 goals. His first goal came against Greece during Euro 2004, marking the start of a prolific career. Of his 146 goals, 124 were scored in competitive fixtures such as FIFA World Cup matches, European Championships, UEFA Nations League games, and qualifiers. The remaining 22 goals came in international friendlies. Ronaldo also set 10 international hat-tricks and netted four goals in a single match on two occasions.

Ronaldo holds numerous records in international football. He became the first player to score in six consecutive FIFA World Cups - 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 - scoring a total of 11 goals across these tournaments. Additionally, he holds the all-time goalscoring record for the European Championship with 14 goals across six tournaments.

A significant moment in his career was leading Portugal to their first-ever European Championship title in 2016. His international journey began ahead of Euro 2004, culminating in a career that left an indelible mark on Portuguese football.