RismadarVoice Reporters
September 23, 2026
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has said he will step away from international football once the national team no longer considers him part of its plans.
The 41-year-old spoke on Wednesday ahead of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League opener against Wales in Lisbon on Thursday.
Ronaldo said he would have no difficulty leaving if head coach Jorge Jesus or Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proença decided his services were no longer required.
“If the coach doesn’t count on me, I can leave today. There’s no problem,” Ronaldo said.
He maintained that he remains with the national team because he believes he can still contribute on and off the pitch and continues to have the confidence of the Portuguese football authorities and supporters.
Ronaldo also confirmed that he considered retiring from international football following Portugal’s round-of-16 exit from the 2026 World Cup.
He said discussions with Proença and Jesus influenced his decision to continue representing the country.
The veteran forward has scored a record 146 goals in 233 appearances for Portugal and remains 21 goals short of reaching 1,000 career goals for club and country.
Ronaldo said reaching the milestone would be a significant achievement but stressed that helping Portugal succeed remained an important objective.
Portugal begin their Nations League campaign against Wales at the José Alvalade Stadium on Thursday, with Jesus confirming that Ronaldo is expected to start.
Ronaldo, however, said he was prepared to accept whatever role the coach assigns him, including starting from the bench or not featuring in a match.
