Remembering Cristiano Ronaldo’s Final Match for Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t know. Nor did his teammates. And the 48,000 supporters inside the Estádio José Alvalade had no idea that September’s UEFA Nations League encounter with Wales would be his final appearance for Portugal.
After 23 years, three major titles and 146 goals, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has called time on his international career following a turbulent final chapter and a dispute with new Portugal manager Jorge Jesus.
Barring a standalone testimonial in the future, Ronaldo’s 234th appearance for the Seleção das Quinas will remain his last. It came, rather ironically, in Jesus’s first match in charge.
- 23
- Years with Portugal
- 234
- Appearances
- 146
- Goals
A win, but no farewell goal
Ronaldo had considered international retirement after Portugal’s disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign. Instead, he chose to extend his 23-year national-team career into another Nations League campaign, having won the competition in 2019 and 2025.
For the 41-year-old, the return to Lisbon brought a narrow 1–0 victory over Wales but a frustrating personal display. He managed just 27 touches—only one more than Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa—yet still attempted seven shots, three more than any other player on the pitch.
An early opportunity went narrowly wide in the 10th minute. Later in the first half, he shot straight into Danny Ward’s gloves from just beyond the penalty spot, prompting some frantic arm waving from the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward.
His most promising chance arrived just after the restart. Rúben Neves’s cross reached him at an awkward height, but Ronaldo could not keep his effort down from six yards out with the goal gaping. The opportunity carried an expected goals value of 0.5.
Just before the hour, Ronaldo finally appeared to have his goal. Running onto Bruno Fernandes’s through ball, he slid a composed finish into the bottom corner. A VAR review, however, found that he had been offside when the pass was played.
The disallowed goal proved his last major involvement. His substitution in the 67th minute meant there would be no farewell strike, although nobody knew then that this was his final bow.
The fallout that followed
A war of words with Jesus followed. Ronaldo accused the manager of breaking a promise after he remained an unused substitute in Portugal’s subsequent victory over Norway. He then left the camp and was punished with a suspension and a fine.
Ronaldo had been expected to return for Portugal during the November international break. His surprise retirement announcement ended those plans, leaving September’s win over Wales as the unannounced conclusion to an extraordinary international career.
