- The 41-year-old superstar has apologised to Portugal supporters.
- The veteran forward was an unused substitute during Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway.
- Ronaldo also revealed that he had supported the appointment of Jorge Jesus.
Cristiano Ronaldo has made it clear that his international career with Portugal is not over yet, despite his dramatic exit from the national team camp during the current international window.
The 41-year-old superstar has apologised to Portugal supporters and his teammates for leaving the squad but insisted that he will remain available for selection once he serves whatever punishment is handed to him.
Ronaldo's statement has also provided a detailed explanation of why he decided to walk out of the Portugal camp.
ALSO READ: Cristiano Ronaldo Reveals Final Decision On Portugal Future After Nations League Exit
Will Cristiano Ronaldo Return To Portugal Squad?
Yes, Ronaldo has indicated that he wants to continue playing for Portugal. The Al-Nassr forward confirmed that he is not following Lionel Messi into international retirement just yet and expects to feature for the national team again.
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“I can promise all my fans, and naturally especially all Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches. There will be time for that,” Ronaldo said.
He added that if he remains fit and continues playing regularly for his club, he will be available for Portugal after serving any suspension imposed on him.
“After serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team,” Ronaldo said.
Why Did Cristiano Ronaldo Leave Portugal Camp?
Ronaldo's exit came after a disagreement with newly appointed Portugal coach Jorge Jesus over his playing time.
The veteran forward was an unused substitute during Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway in Oslo. He was subsequently informed that he would not start against Denmark in Copenhagen.
Portugal eventually won that match 4-2, but Ronaldo had already left the camp.
According to Ronaldo, the problem was not simply about being left out of the starting XI. Instead, he claimed that a previous agreement over how his playing time would be managed was not respected.
Ronaldo said he had agreed to a plan with Jesus and expected the coach to publicly clarify the situation and accept responsibility for how the veteran striker was being used.
However, he claimed Jesus failed to follow through on what had been discussed, resulting in a serious breakdown of trust.
“It was the second time he was failing to keep his word to me,” Ronaldo stated.
Ronaldo Apologises For Leaving Portugal Camp
While defending his reasons for leaving, Ronaldo admitted that he should not have walked out of the national team camp.
“Despite the absolute breach of trust in the coach's word, as anyone who witnessed these conversations can attest, I should not have done it,” he said.
“The responsibility is entirely mine. I apologize to the Portuguese people once again.”
Ronaldo also acknowledged that his status as Portugal captain means he should accept the consequences of his actions.
“I believe the punishment should be no mitigating factors,” he said, adding that being captain should be considered an “aggravating factor.”
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner said he understands that footballers must follow the same rules regardless of their status.
🚨🇵🇹 OFFICIAL! CRISTIANO RONALDO STATEMENT: “This is the truth on what has happened with Jorge Jesus”. As I promised, I decided to recount, in the first person and directly, the circumstances surrounding the last training camp of the National Team. After the 2026 World Cup I prepared a letter to the Portuguese people, which I still keep, with the words I want to address to them when I leave our team for good. At the end of the competition, already on the flight back from the United States, the President of the Federation asked and insisted that I reconsider the decision to leave, because the FPF wanted me to continue. Right afterwards he asked me for my opinion on the name of the current head coach, which he was considering alongside other names he did not reveal to me. I told the President of the Federation that, in my opinion, it would be the right choice. That is why, on the day the current head coach was presented, I was genuinely happy with the choice. It was the right option, as the results are confirming. A few days later I received a first contact from the new national team coach saying he would like to meet me in person. I said yes and we scheduled it for the end of my holidays. We met at the Cidade do Futebol, where my club was holding its pre-season training camp. That day the coach told me he was counting on me and that my presence was fundamental to his project. He presented me, right there, with a plan for my participation. He told me I would play the first match and the last one, and that for reasons of physical management he would always make three to four changes per match. At that point he raised the possibility of me not travelling with the national team to Norway and Denmark. He proposed that I play the first match and stay in Portugal, then rejoin before the match at the Dragão. I refused this proposal immediately. It seemed obvious to me that I could not accept it. It was not because I would not play the matches abroad that I would stop captaining our team. That privilege of staying in Portugal would not be a good example. The coach ended up agreeing with my analysis. This conversation was attended by Simão Coutinho, sporting director of Al Nassr, the person to whom the current coach reported throughout last season and one of those responsible for his signing by the club in 2025. On the eve of the start of the camp the coach came to my house in Lisbon, at his request, for another conversation with me. The conversation was calm and all the principles agreed in August were maintained. I played the match at Alvalade and, although substituted, I made no problem of it. I put the armband on Bruno Fernandes myself, far from imagining that I might be taking my last steps as a player and captain of the National Team. What mattered to me that day was our victory. Winning is always good; in Portugal and for my country, even better. At lunchtime on the day of the match in Norway, an assistant to the coach came to the table where the group was having lunch and informed me that the coach wanted to speak to me. To my absolute surprise, the coach asked me if I was fit to play 30 minutes. I was fully focused on my physical recovery, integrated with my teammates as always, and thinking that I would not play that day. Without any problem. This request was something outside my physical recovery and training plan — because I was only going to play on the 4th at the Dragão — but of course I said yes. He replied that I should then be ready because I would play 30 minutes. The rest everyone knows. I warmed up from half-time, watched the minutes go by, and was not called. The coach had broken his word to me.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 6, 2026
“Actions must have consequences,” Ronaldo said.
Why Is Ronaldo Not Retiring From Portugal Yet?
Ronaldo also revealed that he had previously considered ending his international career.
The notes Cristiano Ronaldo 'okay'd' for Jorge Jesus to say in his press conference 📋: 1. I myself, and no one else, proposed to Cristiano a plan for him this sporting season with the National Team. It was a long and very good conversation. 2. I know how much he lives and loves the national team and the weight he has in the world, and even more the weight and the positive influence he has had on the national team for 24 consecutive years. 3. The plan I proposed to Cristiano was accepted. 4. He never questioned my options. He was exemplary, loyal and professional. 5. The match in Norway was not part of the plan I drew up for him. However, I felt that he had managed to recover physically from the first match and I warned him that I might have to use him. Cristiano agreed. 6. I made a mistake by putting someone of the stature of Pelé or Maradona on to warm up and then not putting him in the game. If it were today I would not do it. 7. To close the subject: I want Cristiano in the National Team. In fact I do not want him a little, I want him a lot. Fortunately he also believes in me. He believed at Al Nassr and he does here as well. 8. About not greeting the fans. We have already spoken about that. Someone who has played more than 230 matches for the national team does not receive lessons from me on love for Portugal. It was a moment of frustration that erases nothing. He is the player who gives the most autographs, takes the most selfies, and shows the most affection to the fans. Let us not invent problems where they do not exist. When we are not happy we react. That was all.
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) October 6, 2026
After the World Cup, he said he had prepared a farewell letter to Portugal supporters. However, he eventually decided against retirement after being asked by the Portuguese Football Federation to continue.
Ronaldo also revealed that he had supported the appointment of Jorge Jesus as Portugal coach, believing that he was the right man for the job.
“I can promise all my fans, and naturally especially all Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches. There will be time for that,” Ronaldo said.