Cristiano Ronaldo Announces Retirement from International Football, Focuses on Career Goal Milestone
Cristiano Ronaldo has declared that his international career with Portugal has come to an end, which leaves the 41-year-old to continue playing for Al-Nassr. His primary motivation now is to achieve the remarkable milestone of 1,000 career goals, as he currently stands at 985.
BBC Sport reflects on some of the most memorable highlights from a career that spanned notable tenures at Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
The Friendly that Changed Everything
After making 31 appearances and scoring five goals for Sporting, Ronaldo drew the attention of Manchester United during a pre-season friendly in 2003, where he assisted two goals in a 3-1 victory in Lisbon.
Ronaldo shared that United’s manager, Alex Ferguson, invited him to meet the players in the dressing room afterwards. Just five days later, he transferred to the Red Devils for £12 million.
“After the match against Sporting, the boys in the dressing room couldn’t stop talking about him,” Ferguson stated. “On the plane back, they urged me to sign him – that shows how highly they regarded him.”
Ronaldo Wins First Premier League Title (2007)
Ronaldo secured the FA Cup during his inaugural season with United, scoring in the final against Millwall. His breakout season came in 2006-07 when he netted 17 goals in the Premier League, marking his first season with double-digit goals. He also won the player of the year and young player of the year awards, along with his first league title.
The following year proved even more successful, as he captured his first Champions League title, scored in the final, earned his first European Golden Shoe, and added another league title to his accolades.
Porto Screamer Earns Ronaldo the Puskas Award (2009)
During his first stint at United, Ronaldo scored 118 goals across 292 games, but one goal notably stood out. He blasted a stunning 40-yard shot into the top corner against Porto, propelling them into the Champions League semi-finals, which won him the inaugural FIFA Puskas Award for the goal of the year.
He transferred to Real Madrid for a record £80 million later that year.
Ronaldo’s Clasico Winner Secures Copa del Rey (2011)
Ronaldo’s initial season with Real Madrid yielded no trophies, but his second season saw victory in the Copa del Rey. The final was memorable as it marked the first time Ronaldo netted the winning goal in a final, which took place during El Clasico, where Real defeated Barcelona 1-0 with a powerful header from an Angel di Maria cross in extra time.
Ronaldo Becomes Real’s Top Scorer (2015)
In October 2015, Ronaldo scored during a 3-0 La Liga victory over Levante, marking his 324th goal and making him the club’s all-time top scorer. The 2015-16 season was notable as it marked his sixth consecutive season of scoring 50 or more goals in all competitions.
He ended his tenure at Real Madrid with a total of 450 goals from just 438 games.
Euro 2016 Win Completes Ronaldo Set (2016)
International success, the one missing element from Ronaldo’s accomplishments, came in 2016 when Portugal claimed the European Championship title, defeating host nation France 1-0 in the final. Despite being injured and carried off in tears during the first half, Ronaldo assumed an unofficial coaching role from the sidelines. He was later named to the tournament’s team of the tournament after contributing three goals and three assists, finishing with a record 14 goals in European Championship history.
Ronaldo Wins Record Fifth Ballon d’Or (2017)
Cristiano Ronaldo won his fifth Ballon d’Or in 2017, tying Lionel Messi’s then-record, after a stellar year with Champions League and La Liga titles. He scored twice in that European final against Juventus.
This achievement followed wins in 2008, 2013, 2014, and 2016; however, Messi later added three more to his collection, creating an 8-5 record in their personal rivalry.
Real Legend Hits 100th Champions League Goal (2017)
Ronaldo became the first player to achieve 100 goals in the Champions League during a critical hat-trick performance against Bayern Munich in the 2016-17 quarter-final. He finished with an impressive total of 141 goals in 187 appearances in the competition, also a record for the Champions League, and maintained his status as the tournament’s top scorer for six consecutive seasons.
Bicycle Kick to Remember Against Juventus (2018)
The year 2018 saw Ronaldo scoring one of the most unforgettable goals of his career during the quarter-finals, executing a stunning bicycle kick against Juventus. It was a moment that had fans and even Juventus supporters standing and applauding, acknowledging his brilliance. This iconic goal was nominated for the Puskas Award but finished second to Mohamed Salah’s effort for Liverpool.
First Player to Win Five Champions Leagues (2018)
Ronaldo claimed two La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey trophies with Real Madrid, but he etched his name in history through the Champions League. He initially won the title in 2008 with Manchester United and then achieved it four more times with Real Madrid, including a remarkable three consecutive victories from 2016 to 2018. This made him the first player to win the Champions League five times.
Ronaldo Breaks Men’s International Goals Record (2021)
Iran’s Ali Daei held the international men’s goals record at 109, a milestone that many believed would remain unbroken. However, Ronaldo surpassed this record during a World Cup qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland in 2021, scoring two late headers to reach 111 goals. He later increased his tally, finishing with 146 goals in 234 international appearances, a record for most caps as well.
The Last Big Landmark as He Reaches 900 Goals (2024)
Ronaldo continued to score for Juventus, during his second stint at Manchester United, and for Al-Nassr, although he struggled to replicate some of his past magical moments. Nevertheless, he made history in 2024 by becoming the first player to score 900 goals in top-tier professional football when Portugal triumphed over Croatia. As of now, he has reached 985 goals, just 15 shy of the remarkable 1,000-goal milestone.
He has netted five goals for Sporting, 450 for Real Madrid, 145 for Manchester United, 101 for Juventus, 138 for Al-Nassr, and 146 for Portugal. Recently, he confirmed his ambition to hit the 1,000 mark, while his former rival Lionel Messi, with 931 goals, remains close behind.
