Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to announce his retirement from international football after playing one final match for the Portugal national team. His farewell appearance is expected to come against Wales on September 24 in the UEFA Nations League at the José Alvalade Stadium.
According to Goal, Ronaldo’s future with Portugal now appears to have a clear timeline, as he plans to step away from international duty following the match in Lisbon.
The development coincides with the arrival of Portugal’s new head coach, Jorge Jesus, who has signed a four-year contract and stated that he does not intend to make major changes to the squad.
“People may think the new coach will come in and change a lot of players. That won’t happen. I’m not foolish. Besides, I don’t have enough time to bring in several players who weren’t called up this time,” Jorge Jesus said in an interview with Canal 11.
If Ronaldo retires after the Wales match, he will end his Portugal career with remarkable statistics: 233 appearances and 146 goals, making him both the most-capped player and the all-time leading scorer in the history of international football.
With Portugal, Ronaldo won the UEFA European Championship in 2016, as well as two UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
The 41-year-old remains under contract with Al Nassr until the summer of 2027. He has scored 976 career goals and is aiming to reach the historic milestone of 1,000 goals before retiring from football altogether. Following his departure from the national team, his full focus is expected to shift to club football.