Why did Cristiano Ronaldo retire from international football with Portugal?

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, announced his retirement from international football in a five-minute Instagram video. BBC sports reporter Jane Dougal said he had already called the summer World Cup his last major tournament, but the exit followed a row with the Portugal head coach in September: Ronaldo walked out of the national camp after being started against Wales, benched against Norway and, he said, promised minutes that never came. He received a 30-day ban and a fine.

• Ronaldo holds the world records for international goals and caps, with 146 goals in 234 appearances between 2003 and 2026.
• He was central to Portugal winning Euro 2016.
• He is on 985 career goals for club and country, chasing 1,000, against Lionel Messi's 931.
• The Portuguese Football Federation says it will organise a public farewell.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Global News Podcast (2026-11-05). Read the whole episode summary →

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