Former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement, bringing an end to a remarkable football career.
The Portuguese legend has broken numerous records throughout his career and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time (GOAT), alongside Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Pele.
Ronaldo is the Champions League’s all-time leading scorer, with 140 goals. He is also a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and five-time Champions League winner.
Liverpool supporters saw plenty of him.
He played against the Reds for Manchester United in two spells and for Real Madrid in between. He scored in United’s 3-0 win at Old Trafford in March 2008 and from the penalty spot in the 4-1 defeat there a year later.
His first Anfield goal came in October 2014, in a 3-0 Champions League win for Real Madrid. The sides met again in the 2018 final in Kyiv. Ronaldo started but did not score, and Real won 3-1 after Liverpool lost Mohamed Salah to injury.
Back at United in October 2021, he had a goal disallowed for offside in a 5-0 defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo has now retired from international football. The 41-year-old confirmed his decision on Thursday in a video posted on social media.
He signed off with a line in Portuguese that translates as “Portugal will always be in me.” He described the decision as a hard one, made with emotion as well as logic.
He ends his Portugal career with 146 goals in 234 appearances, the all-time records in men’s international football for both. He made his debut in August 2003.
He helped Portugal win the 2016 European Championship and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
The announcement follows a breakdown in his relationship with head coach Jorge Jesus.
Jesus took charge in July 2026, after Portugal went out of the World Cup in the round of 16. That tournament was Ronaldo’s last.
Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp after he was an unused substitute in a 2-1 Nations League win over Norway. He was punished with a suspension from international duty and a small fine.
On October 6, Ronaldo released a lengthy statement accusing Jesus of twice breaking promises. He said he was not retiring and hoped for one or more farewell matches.
He was still named in Portugal’s preliminary squad in late October. Thursday’s video instead closed his international career without a farewell match.
Portugal estará sempre em mim https://t.co/dnFj51rxmh
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) November 5, 2026
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