Cristiano Ronaldo has criticised Portugal coach Jorge Jesus for breaking his word in a lengthy statement, but insists he will not retire from international duty just yet.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for his country, left the national team camp after remaining an unused substitute during a 2-1 Nations League victory away to Norway on 27 September.
In a 1,740-word statement released on Tuesday, the 41-year-old said he would 'reveal the truth' about the situation, explaining that Jesus, who returned to manage the national team after the summer's World Cup campaign, had twice gone back on his word.
Broken promises and a meeting with Al Nassr's sporting director
Ronaldo said he and Jesus had agreed a plan for the veteran to miss the Norway and Denmark matches to manage his fitness, only to be told on the day of the former that he would play 30 minutes. He said a subsequent meeting took place, attended by Al Nassr's sporting director Simao Coutinho, where an eight-point agreement was drawn up for Jesus to clarify events in his next press conference.
The agreement detailed that Ronaldo never demanded playing time, had respected Jesus' decisions, and that the coach asking him to warm up without bringing him on had been a mistake. Ronaldo said the agreement did not require Jesus to apologise to him, but said Jesus' subsequent public comments did not accurately reflect their private discussion.
'It was the second time he had broken his word to me,' Ronaldo said. 'I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.'
Ronaldo accepts punishment but remains available
Ronaldo added that he would accept any punishment from the Portuguese Football Federation for leaving the camp, but insisted he would remain 'available to compete and win for our national team'.
In the statement, Ronaldo recounted that after the 2026 World Cup, the federation president asked him to reconsider his decision to leave and asked his opinion on the coach, to which Ronaldo said it would be the ideal choice. He described how Jesus told him he was counting on him and presented a plan for his immediate participation, suggesting he not travel to Norway and Denmark, a suggestion Ronaldo rejected.
Ronaldo said that on the eve of the training camp, Jesus came to his home in Lisbon for another conversation, and that he played the match at the Alvalade stadium, personally placing the captain's armband on Bruno Fernandes. At lunchtime on the day of the Norway match, the coach's assistant told him the coach wanted to talk, and Jesus asked if he was ready to play 30 minutes, which Ronaldo agreed to, but he was not brought on.
He apologised to the Portuguese people, the fans, and those who travelled to see him, taking responsibility for not greeting fans after the match. He described a 48-hour-later conversation with Jesus and Coutinho, where they agreed the coach would repeat his private comments in a press conference, including that Ronaldo had never asked to play and that it had been a mistake to only warm him up.
Ronaldo said a video meeting was held and a brief document was prepared, which he approved, but the coach's subsequent behaviour had 'nothing to do with our meeting'. He said he heard expressions and aggression he considered unjustified, and that none of the notes mentioned the coach apologising to him.
He said he had never intervened in any technical or tactical decision of any coach throughout his career, and that he felt his place was not there when promises were broken. He apologised to his teammates for leaving the camp, stating the responsibility rests on him alone, and said the Portuguese Football Federation must assess the consequences and punish him, adding he believes the penalty should not be reduced.
Ronaldo said he had heard talk of farewell matches but that what he really thinks of is competition, and that if physically fit and playing with his team, he will be available to compete and win with the national team after his suspension period ends.
