Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence on his exit from the Portugal national team camp, accusing coach Jorge Jesus of reneging on his promise on two occasions.
In a lengthy and strongly worded statement, the Portuguese forward gave his side of the controversy involving the coach.
The 41-year-old captain also cleared the air on his international future after confusion over whether he was quitting the national team.
Ronaldo recently stormed out of his country’s Nations League camp after being an unused substitute against Norway and then finding out he would not start against Denmark.
Revealing what went down, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner disclosed that he had drafted a farewell message to the people of Portugal after the 2026 World Cup. However, he said the Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença urged him to continue, while he supported Jesus as the new coach.
Read Cristiano Ronaldo’s statement in full below:
“Never, at any point in my nearly 25-year career, have I interfered in any coach’s or national team manager’s technical or tactical decisions. Whether I like it or not, I accept what I am asked to do. I respect the decision, and when someone breaks their word to me, I feel that I no longer belong there.
I also owe my national team teammates an apology for leaving the training camp. Despite the complete breakdown of trust in the manager’s word, as anyone who witnessed those conversations can attest, I should not have done it. The responsibility is mine alone.
I apologise to the Portuguese people once again, but for me, a broken promise has a decisive impact. I felt that, from that point on, my staying would only harm the group, and I did what I have always said I would do if I no longer felt useful: I packed my bags and left.
The consequences of my actions must be assessed and a punishment imposed by the Portuguese Football Federation.
I understand that there should be no mitigating circumstances in determining the punishment. I am not just any player; I am the team captain, and that makes it more serious. I have already apologised, but I know that actions must have consequences. Anyone involved in football, as I am, knows that regardless of anyone’s status, the rules are the same for everyone.
On this subject, I have heard a lot of talk about farewell matches, about how I must have a fitting farewell and how the Federation wants to give me that opportunity.
I learned in life, often going hungry with nothing to eat, that nobody gives anyone anything.
I can promise all my fans, and of course especially all the Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches. There will be time for that.
But when I think about the national team, what I really think about is competing. That was what I thought about on the day I was told my father had died.
I was at our national team’s training camp, and I decided to stay until the following day’s match was over. I did something for my country that I would never do for any club.
So, if I am physically fit and playing for my club, hopefully scoring goals, once I have served whatever suspension is imposed on me, I will be available, as I always have been, to compete and win for our national team.
