RismadarVoice Reporters
October 6, 2026
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence over his decision to leave the national team camp, accusing head coach Jorge Jesus of breaking promises made to him while admitting that walking away from the squad was a mistake.
Ronaldo, 41, gave his account in a lengthy statement on Tuesday, days after leaving Portugal’s camp ahead of their UEFA Nations League match against Denmark.
The forward said the dispute developed after disagreements over a previously agreed plan for managing his playing time and physical condition during the international window.
According to Ronaldo, Jesus had initially told him that he would feature in Portugal’s first and final matches of the international window as part of a programme designed to manage his fitness.
Ronaldo said Jesus initially suggested that he should not travel with the squad for the away matches against Norway and Denmark, but he rejected the proposal because he believed receiving preferential treatment would be inappropriate for the national team captain.
The situation changed ahead of the Norway match when Ronaldo said Jesus asked whether he was fit enough to play approximately 30 minutes.
Ronaldo agreed and warmed up during the second half but was ultimately not introduced.
He acknowledged that he reacted poorly after the match by failing to acknowledge supporters and apologised to fans for his conduct.
Ronaldo said another meeting subsequently took place involving himself, Jesus and Al Nassr sporting director Simão Coutinho.
According to Ronaldo, Jesus agreed during the meeting to publicly clarify that the forward had never demanded playing time and that the decision to have him warm up without eventually playing had been the coach’s.
Ronaldo alleged that Jesus did not follow through with what had been agreed when he later addressed the media, describing the episode as another breach of trust.
He said the deterioration of trust ultimately influenced his decision to leave the Portugal camp.
Despite criticising the coach, Ronaldo accepted responsibility for walking away from the squad and apologised to his teammates and Portuguese supporters.
He also said the Portuguese Football Federation should determine the appropriate disciplinary action against him, arguing that his status as captain should not exempt him from the rules.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, however, made clear that his departure from the camp did not amount to retirement from international football.
Ronaldo said that after serving any sanction imposed on him, he would remain available for Portugal provided he is physically fit, playing regularly at club level and capable of contributing to the national team.
He also disclosed that he had considered ending his international career following the 2026 World Cup before being persuaded to reconsider.
The latest statement leaves Ronaldo’s immediate international future uncertain as the disagreement with Jesus becomes public.
Jesus has disputed Ronaldo’s account of the agreements between them, while the Portuguese Football Federation had not announced a final disciplinary decision at the time of this report.
