2026 brought us some unforgettable moments, from the excitement of the World Cup to the 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony in London.

However, this year also saw the simultaneous retirement of several football stars, who decided to bring their time with their national teams to a close.

They were the captains and leading figures who set the tone for international football over the last two decades.

All of them have left an indelible mark on their respective nations.

Below, we look back at the legacy, records and illustrious achievements of eight Ballon d'Or legends who hung up their national team shirts in 2026.

Ballon d'Or winners who retired from their national teams in 2026:

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

The end of an unforgettable era after 23 uninterrupted years representing the Portugal national team (2003–2026).

The Madeira-born star ended his career as the all-time leading goalscorer for national teams worldwide, with over 130 goals and more than 200 international caps.

Under his leadership and as captain, Portugal ended their historic title drought by winning Euro 2016 and two editions of the UEFA Nations League (2019 and 2025).

Cristiano Ronaldo, with five Ballon d’Or awards and 18 nominations to his name, brings a glorious era to a close as his nation’s greatest sporting icon.

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

The Argentine captain confirmed his definitive retirement from the Albiceleste following the 2026 World Cup, bringing to a close the most glorious era in his country’s recent history.

During his time with the national side, he lifted the Copa América (2021 and 2024), the 2022 Finalissima and the long-awaited World Cup in Qatar. Furthermore, he established himself as the all-time leading goalscorer and the player with the most appearances in the history of the national team.

His record with the golden trophy is the most dominant of all time: 17 nominations and an all-time record of 8 Ballons d’Or (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023).

Neymar Jr. (Brazil)

The São Paulo-born forward brought his time with the Canarinha to an end following their World Cup elimination by Norway, bidding farewell as the Brazilian national team’s all-time leading goalscorer with 79 official goals.

With Brazil, he won the 2013 Confederations Cup and led the team to their historic Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016.

Throughout his career, Neymar has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or nine times and has finished on the podium twice.

James Rodríguez (Colombia)

After 15 years as the standard-bearer for the Colombian national team, the left-footed player from Cúcuta confirmed his retirement from international football.

His stellar breakthrough at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he won the Golden Boot with six goals, transformed Colombia’s modern history, as he led the side with authority both in the qualifiers and in multiple Copa América finals.

That World Cup impact catapulted him to the forefront of elite football, earning him two Ballon d'Or nominations in 2014 and 2015.

Manuel Neuer (Germany)

The goalkeeper who redefined the role in modern football has formally brought his career with Die Mannschaft to a close.

A key figure in the 2014 World Cup victory, where he won the Golden Glove, Neuer made over 120 international appearances and wore the captain’s armband throughout the last decade.

His revolutionary role as a sweeper-keeper was recognised with five Ballon d'Or nominations. In 2014, he even achieved the feat of finishing third in the world rankings.

Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico)

The Mexican goalkeeper brought his time with El Tri to a close after playing in his sixth World Cup in 2026, a record reserved for just three players in history.

A stalwart between the posts in four Gold Cup victories and the hero of memorable saves at crucial moments, he retired with more than 150 international caps to his name.

His outstanding performances in 2007, guarding the goal for Club América and the Mexican national team in the Copa América and the Gold Cup, earned him a historic nomination for the Ballon d'Or.

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)

The skilful winger brought his time with the Desert Foxes to a close following Algeria’s participation in the World Cup.

As captain and the team’s leading figure, he led the Algerian side to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title in Egypt and racked up over 90 international caps, scoring more than 30 goals.

His impact in the Premier League and at international level was reflected in four Ballon d'Or nominations (2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022).

He reached his personal peak in 2016, when his historic season saw him finish 7th in the overall rankings.

Edin Džeko (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

At the age of 40, whilst still playing for FC Schalke 04, the Balkan striker confirmed in early September that he was bringing his international career to a close.

Džeko leaves as his country’s leading figure: captain, player with the most appearances and all-time top scorer with over 65 goals.

His relentless goal-scoring ability had already been recognised in 2009 with a Ballon d'Or nomination whilst he was shining at Wolfsburg.

In that year’s awards, he finished in a creditable 13th place worldwide.

Without a doubt, all these farewells will mark a turning point.

International football will never be the same without these legends on the pitch...