Ronaldo in records: International milestones from the football icon

What the report says

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, ending a 23-year Portugal career that the article says covered six World Cups and six European Championships. Al Jazeera reports that the 41-year-old leaves the national team as the all-time leader in men’s international appearances and goals, with 234 matches and 146 goals for Portugal.

The piece traces his international debut as an 18-year-old substitute against Kazakhstan and notes how he later made the No. 7 shirt central to his identity after Luis Figo retired. It also points to his final appearance for Portugal on September 24 in a 1-0 win over Wales. The article says a later decision to leave him on the bench helped trigger a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus, leading to a suspension and fine.

Al Jazeera highlights several records Ronaldo has set, including being the first player to reach 200 men’s international appearances, the first European men’s player to score 100 international goals, and the first to score in six World Cups. It also says he is Portugal’s top World Cup scorer with 11 goals and holds major European Championship marks for appearances and goals.

Beyond the records, the article places Ronaldo’s career in a broader national context, saying he helped Portugal become a regular presence at major tournaments and captained the team to its first major title at Euro 2016, followed by Nations League wins in 2019 and 2025.