OMM Newsroom
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he has ended his national team career. The 41-year-old joins Lionel Messi and Neymar among star players to have stepped away from international football. All three continue their club careers: Messi plays for Inter Miami, Ronaldo for Al-Nassr and Neymar for Santos.
Ronaldo scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal. He holds the records for the most appearances and goals by a male player at international level. He won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League twice. Ronaldo scored 11 goals in 27 appearances across six World Cups.
Messi scored 126 goals in 208 appearances for Argentina and won six trophies. He became a world champion in 2022 and reached the final of the 2026 World Cup with Argentina. With 34 appearances, Messi is the most-capped player in World Cup history.
Neymar scored 80 goals in 130 appearances for Brazil. He announced his departure from the national team after Brazil’s 2-1 defeat by Norway in the 2026 World Cup round of 16. Neymar’s contract with Santos runs through December 2026.
