Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing to an end one of the most remarkable careers in the history of the game.

The announcement

The 41-year-old shared the news on Thursday, 5 November 2026, in an Instagram video in which he read a letter to the Portuguese people. He said the day had come to hand back the national team shirt and captain's armband, which he had never felt belonged only to him, and that the decision was made with the heart as well as the head. He described a journey that began in August 2003 and said that when he looks back he sees not only goals and trophies but the people who supported him, including Portuguese emigrants around the world.

A record career

Ronaldo made his Portugal debut in 2003 and went on to become the most-capped player and all-time top scorer in men's international football. He led Portugal to victory at Euro 2016, their first major title, and also won the UEFA Nations League twice. He played at six World Cups.

Club career continues

Ronaldo will continue playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Last week he scored a hat-trick for the club, taking his career total to 985 goals, and he has said he wants to reach 1,000.

How people reacted

Fans, players and clubs around the world paid tribute, with many calling him one of the greatest players of all time.

Nigeria's under-17 women's team, the Flamingos, have made history by reaching the final of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup for the first time.

The match

The Flamingos beat Brazil 3-1 in the semi-final on Wednesday night, 4 November 2026, according to reports. Queen Joseph opened the scoring in the 56th minute, and Awawu Bashiru doubled the lead in the 71st minute before adding her second goal in the 80th minute to put the game beyond Brazil's reach.

A record run

The win beats the team's previous best performance, a bronze medal at the 2022 edition of the tournament. On the way to the semi-final, the Flamingos beat Venezuela in the quarter-finals, a result that earned praise from the Confederation of African Football.

The final

The Flamingos will now face Japan in the final as they chase Nigeria's first FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup title. Japan, one of the strongest sides in women's youth football, won the tournament in 2014.

Background

The result comes at a difficult time for Nigerian women's football at senior level. The Super Falcons failed to qualify for the Women's World Cup for the first time, and no Nigerian player was shortlisted for this year's CAF Women's Player of the Year award. The Flamingos' success has been welcomed as a sign that a new generation of players is coming through.

FIFA's message

FIFA congratulated the Flamingos on qualifying for the final, a first for Nigeria at this level of the women's game.

How people reacted

Nigerians celebrated the win across social media, praising the young players and their coaches and urging the government and the football federation to support them ahead of the final.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been left out of the shortlist for the 2026 CAF Men's Player of the Year award, according to nominations released by the Confederation of African Football on Wednesday, 4 November.

The snub

The 27-year-old had what many considered a strong year. He helped Nigeria finish third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and was a key figure as Galatasaray won the Turkish Super Lig title in 2026. Osimhen won the award in 2023, becoming the first Nigerian to do so since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.

Who made the list

The reigning African Player of the Year, Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, heads the 10-man shortlist, which reportedly also includes Senegal's Sadio Mané, Ghana's Antoine Semenyo and Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo.

Background

The omission follows news this week that no Nigerian player made the shortlist for the women's award for the first time since it began in 2001. Nigeria still has nominations in other categories, including the Super Falcons for Women's National Team of the Year. The CAF Awards ceremony will be held on 7 December at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in Lagos.

How people reacted

Nigerian fans reacted angrily, with many saying Osimhen's achievements deserved recognition and questioning how the shortlist was chosen. Others said the competition was strong this year.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has removed the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and voided its decisions, including the nomination of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar as the party's 2027 presidential candidate, according to reports on Thursday, 5 November 2026.

The judgment

Justice Peter Lifu reportedly delivered the judgment in a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former national deputy chairman of the ADC for the North-East. The court ruled against the caretaker committee led by former Senate President David Mark and set aside all decisions it took on behalf of the party, which would include the primary that produced Atiku as candidate. Full details of the court's reasoning and any orders to INEC were still emerging.

Timing

The ruling came less than 24 hours after Atiku formally launched his presidential campaign at a rally in Sokoto, which his campaign said drew a large crowd.

Background

The ADC became the platform of a coalition of opposition figures in 2025, with David Mark as interim national chairman. Its leadership has faced legal challenges from former officials who say they were wrongly pushed aside. Several court cases over party primaries are ongoing across all major parties, and courts have recently sacked candidates in Nasarawa and ordered changes elsewhere.

What happens next

The ADC and Atiku are widely expected to appeal. Until the appeal is decided, it is not clear how the ruling will affect his candidacy or the party's campaign. Neither Atiku nor the party had responded publicly at the time of reporting.