Some news reads like a headline and makes more sense when you take a closer look. Cristiano Ronaldo’s announcement about leaving the Portugal national team is one of them: behind the farewell message lies an enormous career, a reunion with an old acquaintance from South American football and a detail that still invites discussion.
What Cristiano Ronaldo Announced
According to La Nación (CR) and France 24 en español, the forward announced this Thursday his definitive retirement from the Portuguese national team, at the age of 41. France 24 specifies that he played 234 matches and scored 146 goals for the national team, and that his international career spanned 23 years. In the video he posted on social media, according to Infobae América, he reviewed that period and acknowledged mistakes and moments of suffering, without pointing to specific matches.
What is clear from the sources is the tone of the message: Ronaldo spoke about sacrifices, absences and the pride of representing his country, rather than about titles. France 24 notes that his honors with Portugal include the 2016 European Championship and two editions of the Nations League, but not a World Cup.
The Reunion with James Rodríguez
Infobae América places the encounter in Miami, at the Group K match between Colombia and Portugal, which ended 0-0. Before the game, James Rodríguez spoke about his friendship with Ronaldo dating back to their years together at Real Madrid, and described him as a great friend and a role model. According to the same report, both captains embraced during the pre-match draw, and afterwards James left the field to make way for Juanfer Quintero, while Ronaldo played the entire match.
An important clarification is needed here: the sources place the reunion on June 26, 2026, while the retirement announcement was published on November 5. That is why the Infobae article presents the reunion as background to the announcement, but these are two distinct moments. Reading the two events separately prevents confusing a match scene with a later decision.
The Detail Behind the Announcement
This is where the most delicate part of the story lies. Infobae América maintains that Ronaldo informed the Portuguese Football Federation but did not communicate the decision to the coach, who was going to include him in the squad list for Friday. The same report mentions a “fight” with the coach, but does not describe what happened, and none of the other sources consulted confirm it.
For that reason, this detail should be taken with caution. What can be stated with solid backing is that the announcement became public through social media and the press, and that the order of communications, according to Infobae, was the one we have described. Any reading about motives or internal conflicts remains in the realm of speculation.
How a National Team Retirement Works
Sources of the News
- Infobae América: Cristiano Ronaldo anunció que no va mas con la selección Portugal: así fue su reencuentro con James Rodríguez en la previa ante Colombia en el Mundial de 2026
- La Nación (CR): Cristiano Ronaldo, gran ídolo que se retira de la Selección de Portugal, en breve
- France 24 (español): Otra leyenda se retira de su selección: Cristiano Ronaldo pone fin a su carrera con Portugal
- La Nación (CR): Cristiano Ronaldo se despide de selección portuguesa luego de 23 años
- Infobae América: El detalle detrás del anunció del retiro de Cristiano Ronaldo de la selección de Portugal tras su escandalosa pelea con el entrenador