Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to an extraordinary 23-year career with Portugal.

The 41-year-old forward said on Thursday that he would step away from the national team after Portugal’s November fixtures, signalling the end of an era for one of football’s greatest players.

In an Instagram post, Ronaldo said he would “hand back the number 7 shirt” following the international break.

Portugal are scheduled to face Denmark on November 14 before travelling to Wales three days later.

A record-breaking career

Ronaldo retires as the leading goalscorer in men’s international football, with 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal.

Since making his international debut against Kazakhstan in August 2003, he has established himself as one of the most decorated players in the history of the game.

He captained Portugal to their first major international trophy at Euro 2016 and later helped the team secure UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also made history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first player to score at six editions of the men’s tournament. Portugal were eliminated in the round of 16 by eventual champions Spain.

Tensions with Portugal coach

Ronaldo’s announcement follows a reported dispute with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus during the September international window.

The forward left the national team camp after being left on the bench against Norway. He subsequently apologised to supporters and teammates but accused the coach of breaking promises regarding his playing time.

Ronaldo had previously indicated that he remained available for selection, even if disciplinary action was taken against him by the Portuguese Football Federation.

He also revealed that he had prepared a retirement letter following the 2026 World Cup but was persuaded to continue by federation president Pedro Proenca.

His decision marks the end of his international career, but not his involvement in professional football. Ronaldo is expected to continue playing at club level for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is expanding support for women and girls across Afghanistan through healthcare, cash assistance, vocational training and economic empowerment programs.

In a report titled “Afghanistan: Supporting Women and Girls to Thrive Despite Challenges,” the organization highlighted efforts to improve maternal health, combat malnutrition and create economic opportunities for vulnerable women.

In partnership with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), the ICRC provides six months of cash assistance and nutrition guidance to pregnant and breastfeeding women. The program reached 1,400 women across four provinces in 2026.

The organization also supports 47 ARCS healthcare centers, which provided more than 800,000 outpatient consultations for women between June 2025 and July 2026. Services included more than 980 deliveries, 111,000 antenatal consultations and 39,000 postnatal consultations.

Economic empowerment is another focus, with 437 women and girls with disabilities receiving vocational training and 101 benefiting from interest-free loans during the same period. More than 33,800 also received physiotherapy, while over 12,600 benefited from prosthetic and mobility devices.

Additional programs include financial assistance for female-headed households, emergency medical training for female healthcare workers and awareness campaigns on explosive hazards, which have reached around 260,000 women and girls.

The ICRC says its initiatives aim to help women and girls access essential services, strengthen their independence and build more secure futures despite ongoing challenges.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has highlighted its diplomatic engagement and efforts to support Afghanistan during an academic lecture delivered at the Diplomatic Institute of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador Dr. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Ayash, Director General of the OIC Office in Afghanistan, delivered the lecture on “Diplomacy and the Efforts of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Afghanistan.

According to Zia Ahmad Takal, Director of Public Communication at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the event was attended by ministry employees and officials from various government institutions.

During his presentation, Al-Ayash discussed key mechanisms of public and multilateral diplomacy, outlining the history of the OIC, its various institutions and organizational structure.

He also reviewed decisions concerning Afghanistan adopted at OIC summits and meetings of foreign ministers, highlighting the role of the organization’s office in Kabul in following up on their implementation.

The ambassador further discussed the organization’s initiatives and activities aimed at supporting Afghanistan across different sectors.

The session concluded with an interactive discussion, during which participants raised questions, shared their perspectives and exchanged views on several diplomatic and institutional issues.

The lecture provided an opportunity to discuss the OIC’s diplomatic mechanisms and its engagement with Afghanistan through multilateral cooperation.