Reports today suggest Cristiano Ronaldo could retire from international football after one final Portugal appearance, with 24 September 2026 being pointed to as the date. The claim was first reported by Jordanian journalist Mohammed Awaad and later picked up by Goal.com.
According to Awaad, a Portuguese agent told him Ronaldo plans to play his final international match in the UEFA Nations League against Wales. Both the original source and the match venue have been verified independently.
"He will play against Wales in the UEFA Nations League; the match will be at the Sporting Lisbon stadium, Jose Alvalade," Awaad wrote on X. "His justification is that it's a match at the stadium where he started, and where Ronaldo will show up to bid farewell to the Portuguese national team. Then the international story ends."
No official confirmation has come from Ronaldo or the Portuguese team. What is certain is that Portugal would be facing Wales on 24 September at Estadio Jose Alvalade, and new head coach Jorge Jesus has left the door open for Ronaldo to feature in the Nations League campaign.
Why Estadio Jose Alvalade Is The Perfect Venue For Cristiano Ronaldo's Farewell
Ronaldo began his career at 17, making his professional debut for Sporting CP at Estadio Jose Alvalade in 2002, and his breakthrough soon caught Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s attention.
His performances that season, including Sporting's famous pre-season friendly against United in August 2003, helped launch the career that followed. The stadium was rebuilt and reopened in 2003, the same year Ronaldo left Lisbon for Manchester.
Although he returned there regularly with Portugal over the next two decades, but has never played a formal farewell match on that turf. Ronaldo choosing to finish at Alvalade feels deliberate. Ending his career where it began, rather than where it reached its greatest heights, carries a different kind of meaning.
Portugal's head coach Jorge Jesus has described Ronaldo as a symbol of Portuguese football and insisted the forward will never be a problem for the national team: "Cris is a symbol of Portuguese football."
"Cris is a symbol of the national team, that will forever be in the history books," Jesus said. He has also confirmed he will hold a private meeting with Ronaldo before finalising any decisions about the Nations League squad.
What Cristiano Ronaldo Said After Portugal's FIFA World Cup Exit
Portugal's World Cup ended in a 1-0 defeat to Spain in Dallas on July 7. Ronaldo stayed on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, and at the final whistle the 41-year-old was overcome with emotion. Images of him in tears quickly spread across social media.
Speaking to reporters after the defeat, Ronaldo confirmed the World Cup would not be repeated. "I'm sad to be leaving the World Cup like this. I gave it my all. I did my best, and I'm leaving with a clear conscience. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I'll now have time to reflect and be with my family."
He was careful not to turn that into a full retirement announcement. “I won’t be making any rash decisions,” he said.
Ronaldo scored three goals in five matches during Portugal's World Cup campaign. He registered a brace against Uzbekistan in the group stage and converted a penalty against Croatia in the round of 32.
It was his first knockout-stage goal at a World Cup in nine attempts, ending a drought that had stretched back years.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal Career In Numbers
Ronaldo is men's football's all-time leader for both international appearances and goals. His 233 caps leave him 87 clear of Portugal's next-most capped player, Joao Moutinho, while his 146 international goals are 99 more than Pauleta, the country's second-highest scorer.
At the global level, no outfield player in any national team has scored or appeared more often. His nearest rival for goals is Iran's Ali Daei, who retired on 109. Ronaldo passed that figure in November 2021 and has added 37 further goals since.
He also won three major international trophies: UEFA Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025. Portugal's 2025 Nations League victory over Spain at the Allianz Arena marked the final trophy Ronaldo won for his country.
His Al-Nassr deal runs until June 30, 2027. Now 41, he has been open about his desire to become the first footballer to reach 1,000 career goals, and he is still 24 short of that mark on 976. However his time with Portugal might be coming to an end.
