Billionaire soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo announced Thursday he will retire from Portugal’s national team, ending a record-breaking career that spanned two decades and made him one of the world’s wealthiest athletes, just a month after longtime rival Lionel Messi played his final game for Argentina.
Key Facts
In an emotional video shared on social media, Ronaldo said the day had come for him to “hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” after representing Portugal for 23 years.
In the video, the soccer legend is seen sitting on a couch and reading out his statement from a paper, intercut with clips of highlights from his international career.
Ronaldo said this was not an easy decision to make as “some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart.”
The soccer star said throughout his international career with the Portuguese team, he had always pushed himself “beyond my limits” and demanded the “most of myself” in the pursuit of winning and making history.
As he reflected on the highs and lows of his international career, Ronaldo also thanked his teammates, coaches, family and fans.
Forbes Valuation
According to our estimates, Ronaldo’s net worth is around $1.2 billion, making him one of the world’s wealthiest athletes alongside fellow soccer legend Lionel Messi, who is worth $1.1 billion. He is one of only four active athletes alongside Messi, NBA superstar LeBron James and golfer Tiger Woods to attain billionaire status. Ronaldo is also the world’s highest-paid soccer player, with earnings of $300 million for the 2026-27 season, including an estimated $250 million in on-field earnings from Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr and $50 million from endorsements and other business ventures.
What Do We Know About Ronaldo’s Clash With Portugal’s Coach?
The official retirement announcement comes more than a month after Ronaldo walked out of the national team’s camp after a public dispute with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus. The clash stemmed from the coach’s decision to leave Ronaldo on the bench during a UEFA Nations League game against Norway in September. The soccer star later accused Jesus of breaking promises about his playing time.
Will Ronaldo Play A Farewell Game For Portugal?
It’s unclear. In October, a week after his public fallout with the Portuguese team coach, Ronaldo promised fans there would be “one or more farewell matches.” Reuters reported on Thursday that Ronaldo intends to retire after the November international break. Portugal is scheduled to play two UEFA Nations League games this month, one against Denmark on November 14 and one against Norway on November 17. However, in his video Ronaldo simply said: “Today, my journey on the pitch with the National Team comes to an end,” and made no mention of one last appearance for Portugal.
big number
146. That is the total number of international goals Ronaldo has scored for Portugal, the most by any player in men’s international soccer history. The Portuguese legend also holds the men’s international appearances record, with 234 caps.
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