AFCON 2025
On 5 November 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo ended a 23-year international career that redefined what was possible for Portuguese football. In a measured video message he handed back the No. 7 shirt, saying the day had come to pass it to the future and that Portugal would always be in him. He leaves as the most-capped and highest-scoring player in the history of men’s international football, 234 appearances, 146 goals, and as the captain who delivered the country’s first major trophy.
Across those two decades the red jersey produced countless highlights. These three stand above the rest.
1. Solna, 19 November 2013; The Hat-Trick That Took Portugal to Brazil
Portugal trailed 2-1 on the night and needed a result in Stockholm to reach the 2014 World Cup. Zlatan Ibrahimović had just scored twice in quick succession, turning the Friends Arena into a cauldron. With the tie on a knife-edge, Ronaldo produced the response that defined him.
Five minutes into the second half he had opened the scoring from a João Moutinho through-ball. After Ibrahimović’s brace, he struck again in the 77th minute, racing clear and finishing with his left foot. Two minutes later he completed the hat-trick, rounding the goalkeeper and finishing high into the net. Portugal won 3-2 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.
It was a direct duel with one of the era’s other greats, and Ronaldo took all four Portuguese goals across the two legs. After the match he said simply: “I know Portugal needed me in these matches and I showed that I am here.” The goals also took him level with Pauleta as Portugal’s all-time leading scorer at the time. The performance remains the purest expression of Ronaldo as the player who could single-handedly drag his country through the toughest nights.
2. Sochi, 15 June 2018; The Free-Kick That Completed a World Cup Hat-Trick
Opening night of the World Cup against Spain produced one of the competition’s great individual displays. Ronaldo scored in the fourth minute from the penalty spot. Just before half-time he struck again after David de Gea spilled a long-range shot. Spain fought back through Diego Costa and a Nacho half-volley to lead 3-2 with minutes remaining.
In the 88th minute Portugal won a free-kick roughly 25 yards out. Ronaldo stepped up for what was his first successful direct free-kick at a major tournament after 44 previous attempts. He curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner. The match finished 3-3.
He became only the fourth player to score at four World Cups and the first to score in eight consecutive major tournaments. The free-kick itself was voted among the goals of the tournament. On a night when Spain were dealing with the sudden departure of their coach, Ronaldo delivered the definitive individual performance of his World Cup career.
3. Saint-Denis, 10 July 2016; The Tears, the Sideline Leadership, and the Trophy
Euro 2016 remains the high point of Portuguese football. Portugal had scraped through the group stage as one of the best third-placed teams and ground out knockout results. Ronaldo scored the header that set up the 2-0 semi-final win over Wales and finished as the tournament’s joint-top scorer.
In the final against hosts France he lasted only 25 minutes. A challenge from Dimitri Payet left him unable to continue; he left the pitch in tears. What followed was pure theatre. He returned to the touchline in a tracksuit, cajoling teammates, directing traffic and, in the words of several players, supplying the energy the side needed. Éder’s 109th-minute strike won the match 1-0.
At full-time Ronaldo lifted the European Championship trophy; Portugal’s first major honour. The image of the captain, emotional and triumphant, kissing the trophy became the defining photograph of the tournament. He later described it as one of the happiest moments of his career, saying the team had made history after years of falling short. The combination of personal heartbreak and collective glory captured the bond he had with the shirt better than any single goal.
