Ronaldo's remarkable legacy: The records Al Nassr star broke with Portugal while in RSL
Cristiano Ronaldo may have called time on his international career, but not before adding several more remarkable chapters to his Portugal story while playing in the Roshn Saudi League.
The Al Nassr captain announced on Thursday that he would step away from international football, bringing the curtain down on a record-breaking 23-year career with Portugal.
And while his place among football's all-time greats was assured long before his move to Saudi Arabia in December 2022, Ronaldo continued to make history on the international stage during his time in the RSL.
From becoming the most-capped men's international footballer to lifting another major trophy with Portugal, here are some standout milestones Ronaldo achieved while representing Al Nassr.
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28 goals in 38 appearances
Ronaldo's move to Saudi Arabia did little to slow his international goalscoring exploits.
Since joining Al Nassr, the Portuguese superstar scored 28 goals in 38 appearances for his country, accounting for almost a fifth of his extraordinary international tally.
Indeed, his double against Hungary last October hoisted Ronaldo to 41 goals in FIFA World Cup qualifying and made him the all-time highest scorer in World Cup qualification.
He was particularly prolific in 2023, netting 10 times in nine matches as Portugal enjoyed a perfect European Championship qualifying campaign.
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Most-capped in history
In March 2023, barely three months after joining Al Nassr, Ronaldo made history by becoming the most-capped player in men's international football.
His 197th appearance, against Liechtenstein, saw him surpass Kuwait's Bader Al Mutawa. Naturally, Ronaldo marked the occasion with two goals in a 4-0 victory.
Three months later, he became the first male footballer to reach 200 international appearances, scoring a dramatic late winner against Iceland to celebrate the landmark in style.
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Six Euros, six World Cups
Ronaldo added another remarkable record to his collection at UEFA Euro 2024, becoming the first player to appear at six European Championships.
Two years later, he achieved another unprecedented feat at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first player to score at six editions of the tournament when he found the net against Uzbekistan.
Having made his World Cup debut in 2006, Ronaldo finished with 11 goals in 27 appearances on football's biggest international stage.
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Another major trophy
One of Ronaldo's finest achievements during his Al Nassr career came in June 2025, when he captained Portugal to UEFA Nations League glory.
The then 40-year-old played a decisive role in the knockout stages, scoring the winner against Germany in the semi-finals before netting the equaliser against Spain in the final.
Portugal went on to win 5-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw, becoming the first country to lift the Nations League trophy twice.
It was Ronaldo's third major international honour, following Portugal's historic Euro 2016 triumph and their inaugural Nations League success in 2019.
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Bringing up the 900
September 2024 brought another extraordinary moment when Ronaldo scored the 900th senior goal of his career during Portugal's 2-1 Nations League victory over Croatia.
The landmark strike was his 131st international goal and came almost two years after his arrival in Saudi Arabia.
It was another reminder of Ronaldo's incredible longevity, with the Al Nassr forward continuing to break records well into his late thirties and forties.
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A legacy unlike any other
Ronaldo's final international appearance came against Wales in September 2026, bringing his Portugal career to a close with a world-record 234 caps and 146 goals.
Across 23 years, he represented his country at 12 World Cups and Euros combined, won three international trophies and established a host of records that may stand for generations.
For Ronaldo, the international chapter may be over. But his astonishing career continues with Al Nassr, where the pursuit of that landmark 1,000 career goals - his hat-trick last week against Al Kholood lifted him to 985 - trophies and records goes on.