Cristiano Ronaldo has announced the end of his international career with Portugal at age 41, leaving him to continue playing for Al-Nassr while chasing an unprecedented 1,000 career goals — he currently stands at 985. The Portuguese forward finishes with 146 goals in 234 caps, a men's international record, and remains the all-time top scorer in Champions League history with 141 goals.
Breakthrough at Sporting and Move to Manchester United
After 31 first-team games and five goals for Sporting CP, Ronaldo caught Manchester United's attention in a 2003 pre-season friendly in Lisbon, setting up two goals in a 3-1 win. Manager Alex Ferguson signed him five days later for £12 million.
First Premier League Title and Early Success (2007)
Ronaldo's 2006-07 season saw him score 17 Premier League goals, win Player and Young Player of the Year awards, and claim his first league title. The following season brought his first Champions League trophy, a goal in the final, and a European Golden Shoe.
Porto Screamer Wins Inaugural Puskás Award (2009)
A 40-yard rocket against Porto in the Champions League quarter-finals earned Ronaldo the first FIFA Puskás Award. Months later he joined Real Madrid for £80 million.
Clásico Winner Secures Copa del Rey (2011)
Ronaldo headed an extra-time winner from Ángel Di María's cross as Real Madrid beat Barcelona 1-0, delivering the club's first Copa del Rey in seven years and his first final-winning goal.
Real Madrid's All-Time Top Scorer (2015)
At age 30, Ronaldo netted his 324th goal in 310 games to become Real Madrid's leading scorer. He would eventually leave with 450 goals in 438 appearances.
Euro 2016 Triumph Completes International Set
Portugal defeated hosts France 1-0 in the final, giving Ronaldo his first major international trophy. He contributed three goals and three assists, later retiring as the European Championship's all-time top scorer with 14 goals.
Record-Equalling Fifth Ballon d'Or (2017)
After winning the Champions League and La Liga in 2016-17, Ronaldo claimed his fifth Ballon d'Or, matching Lionel Messi's tally at the time. Messi would eventually win eight to Ronaldo's five.
First Player to 100 Champions League Goals (2017)
A hat-trick against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals made Ronaldo the first player to reach 100 Champions League goals. He finished with 141 in 187 games and was top scorer for six consecutive seasons.
Bicycle Kick Against Juventus (2018)
An acrobatic overhead kick in the quarter-finals drew applause from Juventus fans. The goal was nominated for the Puskás Award but finished second to Mohamed Salah's strike.
First Player to Win Five Champions Leagues (2018)
Ronaldo won the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008 and four times with Real Madrid (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), becoming the first player to lift the trophy five times.
Breaking the Men's International Goals Record (2021)
Two late headers against the Republic of Ireland took Ronaldo to 111 international goals, surpassing Ali Daei's 109. He extended the record to 146 goals.
900 Career Goals Milestone (2024)
Ronaldo became the first player to reach 900 official top-level career goals during a Portugal match against Croatia. His tally now stands at 985, comprising 5 for Sporting, 450 for Real Madrid, 145 for Manchester United, 101 for Juventus, 138 for Al-Nassr, and 146 for Portugal.
