Ronaldo says he will continue for Portugal after revealing full details of Jesus dispute

Cristiano Ronaldo has said he will not retire from international football and expects to play “one or more farewell matches” for Portugal, while calling on the Portuguese Football Federation to punish him for leaving the squad.

The Portugal captain issued a detailed statement explaining his disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus, from their conversations before Jesus’ appointment through to Ronaldo’s departure from the latest camp.

Ronaldo said he had prepared a farewell message after the 2026 World Cup but was persuaded to reconsider retirement by the federation president on the flight home from the United States. He was then asked for his opinion of the coach the president was considering.

“I told the president that, in my opinion, he was the ideal choice,” Ronaldo said. “So, on the day the current coach was presented, I was genuinely happy with the decision. It was the right choice, as the results have shown.”

Jesus later met Ronaldo at Cidade do Futebol and told him he was central to his plans. The proposed arrangement was for Ronaldo to start the first and final matches of the camp, with three or four changes made in each game for physical reasons.

Jesus suggested Ronaldo should not travel to Norway and Denmark, instead playing the opening match and remaining in Portugal before joining the squad for the game at Estadio do Dragao. Ronaldo rejected that idea, saying it would not set the right example for a captain. Simao Coutinho, Al Nassr’s sporting director and one of those involved in Jesus’ move to the club in 2025, was present for the discussion.

Ronaldo said Jesus also visited his home in Lisbon before the camp and that they reaffirmed the same arrangements. Ronaldo started at Estadio Jose Alvalade, handed the captain’s armband to Bruno Fernandes when he was substituted and said he caused no problem.

However, on the day of the Norway match, Jesus asked whether Ronaldo could play for 30 minutes. Although that was outside his recovery and training schedule, Ronaldo agreed. He warmed up from the start of the second half but was not sent on.

“The coach broke his promise,” Ronaldo said.

He admitted it was wrong not to greet the supporters afterwards and apologised to Portugal’s fans, as well as those who had travelled to see him. He said he felt frustrated and wanted to be alone.

Forty-eight hours later, Ronaldo, Jesus and Coutinho held a meeting. Ronaldo said they agreed Jesus would explain at a news conference that Ronaldo had never requested playing time, that the camp plan had been the coach’s alone, and that leaving him to warm up without introducing him had been a mistake.

A video meeting involving Jesus, Coutinho and Tiago Craveiro followed, and a summary document was prepared with Ronaldo’s approval. Ronaldo claimed the coach’s comments did not reflect their private agreement and described hearing “aggressive” language and an attitude of “he wants, he can and he orders”.

Jesus’ notes, according to Ronaldo, said the coach had created the plan himself, that Ronaldo had accepted it and had never questioned his decisions. They also stated that Jesus had considered Ronaldo fit enough to play against Norway, but accepted he had made a mistake by using a player of “the stature of Pele or Maradona” only in the warm-up.

Jesus was also quoted as saying: “I want Cristiano in the national team. Not a little, but a lot. Fortunately, he trusts me too.”

Ronaldo said this was the second time Jesus had broken his word, prompting him to leave the camp. He apologised to his team-mates for his absence but said the federation should assess and punish his conduct without reducing the sanction because he was captain.

He added that he had never interfered in a coach’s tactical or technical decisions during a career of almost 25 years. Ronaldo said he would return after any suspension if he was fit, playing for his club and available to compete and win for Portugal.

“I can promise all my supporters, especially the Portuguese, that we will play one or more farewell matches,” he said. “There will be time for that.”

Ronaldo was included in Jesus’ first squad for four Nations League matches. He started the opening game against Wales, then remained an unused substitute against Norway, with Jesus saying the match had prevented him from using him.

After an urgent meeting involving Ronaldo, Jesus and the federation president, Ronaldo left the camp. Rafael Leao wore the number seven shirt in the following match against Denmark. Despite government intervention, the dispute continued.

Portugal won all four of their opening matches and secured a place in the quarter-finals with two games still to play.