By Salma El-Sakka
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international duty, ending a 23-year career with Portugal that made him the most prolific scorer in men's international football history.
World Cup Milestones
Ronaldo is the only male player to have scored at six different World Cups, featuring in every tournament since 2006. He netted 11 World Cup goals, tying for ninth all-time, with his best return of four goals in Russia 2018, including a hat-trick against Spain.
Hat-Trick Record
He scored 10 international hat-tricks, becoming the first man to reach that figure in 2021 with a three-goal performance against Luxembourg.
Consistent Scoring
Ronaldo found the net for Portugal in 23 consecutive calendar years, a streak that began with his first goal against Greece at Euro 2004 and ended with a penalty against Croatia at the 2026 World Cup.
All-Time Records
His 146 international goals stand as the men's world record, 20 more than nearest rival Lionel Messi. He also holds the record for most international appearances with 234 caps, 26 more than Messi.
Career Total
Combining club and country, Ronaldo has scored 985 goals. He aims to reach 1,000 career goals while continuing to play for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
