Cristiano Ronaldo ignored Jorge Jesus three times before Portugal retirement

Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to end his Portugal career was not entirely unexpected within the national team, after new details emerged about a strained relationship with manager Jorge Jesus.

The Al Nassr captain reportedly ignored three calls from Jesus before announcing his international retirement, according to a source close to the manager who spoke to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah.

The source said the disagreement had developed over time and intensified during meetings between the pair. Ronaldo remained opposed to the possibility of starting matches on the bench, while Jesus was preparing to redefine roles within the Portugal squad as he looked ahead to the next stage.

Ronaldo was not prepared to accept a position different from the one he had traditionally held. During discussions with Jesus, he insisted that he should not be used as a substitute for another player.

Jesus, however, had made clear that Ronaldo’s role could change as the veteran forward moved into a different stage of his career and as the manager considered new tactical options.

Tensions increased when Ronaldo realised that Jesus was considering giving Goncalo Ramos priority as Portugal’s first-choice striker. That would have made it more difficult for the Al Nassr forward to retain his place in the starting XI and could have left him out of the manager’s plans for some matches.

The source said Ronaldo never directly told Jesus that he intended to retire from international football. Instead, he failed to answer three calls from the manager.

That led Jesus to believe Ronaldo was preparing to take the step, despite not receiving official confirmation from the player.

There had already been doubts about Ronaldo’s return to the Portugal squad while the dispute remained unresolved. Jesus wanted to bring him back, but also insisted on applying the rules and conditions he had established for managing the team issues that were central to the disagreement.

Reports had previously suggested that Ronaldo’s return was becoming increasingly difficult, although the possibility of an agreement remained open and could have allowed the Portugal captain to rejoin the group.

The 23-year international career of Portugal’s record goalscorer was ultimately brought to an end when he announced his retirement on Thursday in a video posted on his Instagram and X accounts. His time with the national team covered one of the most significant periods in Portugal’s history.

The schedule listed Al Hazm against Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on 06 November 2026. Portugal are also listed to face Denmark in the UEFA Nations League – League A on 14 November 2026.