Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal star breaks silence over national team walkout in statement

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence over his Portugal walkout in a lengthy statement in which he says he is not retiring from the national team.

The 41-year-old, whose actions had raised doubts over his international future, accused Portugal's new head coach Jorge Jesus of broken promises in a near 2,000-word statement to his 679 million Instagram followers.

You can read the statement in full at the bottom of this article.

Addressing the uncertainty over his Portugal future, the Al Nassr forward said: "If I am physically well, playing for my club, with goals I hope, after serving the suspension that may be applied to me, I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team."

Portugal boss Jesus, who previously denied there was a rift between him and his captain, said on Sunday the door was still open for Ronaldo to return to the national team.

However, the future of Portugal's record goalscorer and appearance-maker, whose 146 goals in 234 international caps is the most of any men's player in history, is far from clear following his decision to air his grievances in public.

Ronaldo, who reveals in his statement that he wrote his international retirement letter after the World Cup, has apologised for his actions but asked the Portuguese Football Federation to punish him and spare him any leniency.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner delivered his statement, which spanned 11 slides on Instagram, a matter of hours before his great rival Lionel Messi bid farewell to international football in an emotional send-off in Argentina.

Sky Sports News has approached the Portuguese Football Federation for comment.

'The manager had broken his word to me' - Ronaldo

Ronaldo left the national team squad in Copenhagen on the eve of a Nations League fixture against Denmark after he was an unused substitute for a 2-1 win away to Norway on September 27.

The Portugal captain chose not to applaud the travelling fans with his team-mates, for which he apologises in his statement, and reports subsequently emerged of a rift between Ronaldo and Jesus.

Ronaldo claims in his statement that Jesus had told him he would play 30 minutes against Norway on the day of the game only to go back on his word.

"Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from half-time onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn't called on," Ronaldo said. "The coach had broken his word to me."

On failing to show his appreciation to the fans, Ronaldo added: "At the end of the match I only wanted everything to finish with the victory and to be alone. A failing that is solely my responsibility and that should not have happened.

"I apologise to the Portuguese who supported us intensely there, I apologise to the fans, and I apologise to those who, without being Portuguese, may have travelled there to see me and whom I may have disappointed."

The eight points Jesus 'agreed' to say to the media

Ronaldo and Jesus, who used to work together at Al Nassr, subsequently held a meeting, which was also attended by the sporting director of the Saudi Pro League club, Simao Coutinho.

According to Ronaldo's statement, Jesus agreed to clarify the situation and say that his captain never demanded minutes and that it was a mistake to let him warm up without bringing him on.

Ronaldo says an eight-point document was drawn up to summarise what had been discussed in a subsequent meeting between Jesus, Al Nassr sporting director Coutinho and Tiago Craveiro, the player's strategic adviser.

However, Ronaldo felt the Portugal head coach's press conference bore no reflection to the conversation they had shared, which he claims ended in Jesus asking him for a hug.

"I heard expressions and an aggressiveness that I do not believe I deserved, an attitude of 'I want, I can and I command' that he never showed me, not even remotely, in private the day before," said Ronaldo.

He added: "It was the second time he had broken his word to me. I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises."

Jesus denied that any such agreement had been made with the player in a later press conference.

Ronaldo's apologies and Portugal farewell 'promise'

Ronaldo admitted he never should have left the Portugal camp "despite the absolute breach of trust" from Jesus.

"Never, at any moment, have I interfered in any technical or tactical decision of any coach or national team manager in almost 25 years of career," said Ronaldo. "I accept, for better or worse, what they propose that I do. I respect the decision, and when they break their word to me, I feel that my place is not there."

He added: "I felt that, from that point on, my remaining would only harm the working group, and I did what I have always said I would do if I did not feel useful: I packed my bags and left."

Ronaldo apologised to his team-mates and the Portuguese people over his departure from the squad and said he will accept whatever punishment is handed down to him by the Portuguese Football Federation.

The forward said he hopes his international career will not be limited to a farewell but promised he would end his Portugal career in the right way.

Ronaldo added: "I can promise all my fans, naturally and especially all Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches; there will be time for that. But when I think of the national team, what I really think of is competing.

"That is what I thought on the day I was given the news of my father's death. I was at a camp with our national team and I decided to stay there until the end of the match the following day. I did for the country what I would never do for any club."

How Ronaldo nearly retired from international football

Ronaldo publicly admitted earlier in this international break that he considered retiring from international football following the World Cup.

His statement on Instagram reveals that he had written his retirement statement only to be talked out of it by the president of the Portuguese Football Federation Pedro Proença on the plane back from North America.

Ronaldo says Proença then asked him for his opinion on his former head coach at Al Nassr Jesus becoming Portugal's next manager.

"I told [him] that, in my opinion, it would be the right choice," Ronaldo said. "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."

Ronaldo's statement in full

As promised, I have decided to tell, in the first person and directly, the circumstances surrounding the latest national team camp.

After the 2026 World Cup, I prepared a letter to the Portuguese people, which I still have, containing the words I want to address to them when I leave the national team for good.

At the end of the tournament, 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 after, he asked for my opinion on the name of the current head coach, whom he was considering, alongside other names he did not reveal to me. I told the President of the Federation that, in my opinion, he would be the right choice.

That is why, on the day the current head coach was announced, I was genuinely happy with the choice. It was the right option, as the results are showing.

A few days later, I received a first contact from the new national team coach saying he would like to meet with me in person. I said yes, and we scheduled it for the end of my holidays.

We met at Cidade do Futebol, where my club was holding its pre-season camp. The head coach told me that day that he counted on me and that my presence was essential to his project. He presented me, right there, with a plan for my involvement. He told me I would play the first and the last match, and that for fitness management reasons he would always make three or four changes per game.

At that point, he submitted the idea that I not travel with the squad to Norway and Denmark. He proposed that I play the first game, stay in Portugal, then rejoin the team before the match at the Dragão.

I refused this proposal immediately. It seemed obvious to me that I could not accept it. Even though I wouldn't be playing the matches abroad I was still captain of our team. That privilege of staying in Portugal would not set a good example.

The head coach ended up agreeing with my point of view.

This conversation was attended by Simão Coutinho, Sporting Director of Al Nassr, the person to whom the current head coach reported throughout the past season and one of those responsible for his signing by the club in 2025.

On the day before camp began, the head coach came to my home 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 I was substituted, I made no issue. 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 head coach came to the table where the group was having lunch and told me that the head coach wanted to speak to me.

To my absolute surprise, the head coach asked me whether I was OK to play 30 minutes. I was totally focused on my physical recovery, integrated with my teammates as always, and thinking I would not play that day. No problem at all.

This request was outside my physical recovery and training plan, because I was only going to play on the 4th at the Dragão, but I obviously said yes. He replied that I should 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 never called on.

The head coach had failed to keep his word.

At the end of the match, I just wanted everything to be over with a victory and to be left alone. I did not go to greet the fans. That is a failing that is solely my responsibility and should not have happened.

I apologise to the Portuguese people who supported us there, I apologise to the fans, and I apologise to anyone who, though not Portuguese, may have travelled there to see me and whom I may have disappointed.

Forty-eight hours later, we had a conversation: myself, the head coach, and Simão Coutinho, since he had been present for our conversations in August.

It was a deep moment, very frank, without any kind of filter. We agreed that there was only one way to close this "issue": that the head coach repeat what he had just told me in private, in Simão Coutinho's presence, but in the press room.

What was agreed was simple: the head coach would begin the press conference with this topic, seeking to close the matter by telling the truth.

He would say that I never asked to play any minutes, that it was the head coach and no one else who proposed the plan for this camp to me, and that it was a mistake to have me warm up and then not bring me on, and that if it happened again he would not do it.

We ended that meeting with the head coach asking me for a hug, promising me that he would say in the press conference what he had just said to me, and that the matter would be put behind us. I would not play in Denmark, and I would play at the match at the Dragão. All of this in the presence of Simão Coutinho, always.

At the head coach's request, a meeting then took place between him, Simão Coutinho and Tiago Craveiro by video conference, in which what we had discussed was summarised.

A short document was produced, which I myself validated and which, with my knowledge, was delivered to the head coach, as he had requested.

The conference was what is known: the attitude had nothing to do with our meeting. I heard expressions and an aggressiveness I believe I did not deserve, a "high and mighty" attitude that he never showed me before, not even remotely, in private the day before.

The notes I validated were as follows:

"I think it's important, not least because it is the truth, to clarify a few things before talking about Denmark:

1. I myself, with no one else, proposed a plan to Cristiano for this season with the Nations Team. It was a long and very good conversation.
2. I know how much he lives for and loves the National Team, and the weight he has in the World, and even more the weight and positive influence he has had in the National Team for 24 consecutive years.
3. The plan I proposed to Cristiano was accepted.
4. He never questioned my choices. 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 he had managed to recover physically from the first game, and I warned him that I might have to use him. Cristiano agreed.
6. I made a mistake in having someone of the stature of Pele or Maradona warm up and then not putting him in the game. If it were today, I would not do it.
7. To close the matter: I want Cristiano in the national team. In fact, I don't want him a little, I want him a lot. Fortunately, he also believes in me. He believed in me at Al Nassr and here too.
8. On not having greeted the fans. We have already talked about that. Someone who has played more than 230 matches for the national team does not receive lessons from me about love for Portugal. It was a moment of frustration that erases nothing. He is the player who signs the most autographs, takes the most selfies, shows the most affection to the fans. Let's not invent problems where they don't exist. When we are not happy, we react. That was all."

None of these notes stated, therefore, required the head coach to even apologise to me.

It was the second time he was failing to keep his word to me.

I decided to leave the camp without waiting for any further broken promise. For me, the truth is still the most important thing in the relationship between people. No matter how much it may hurt, tell me the truth.

In fact, in a conversation I had with the President of the FPF and with the head coach on the morning of the day of that press conference, which they can surely confirm, I reaffirmed that if they did not want me there, they should tell me. All they had to do was be frank with me. I would accept it, and I promised that we would prepare something beautiful, as I dream it might happen, and no one would be angry.

I remember it as if it were today. They answered in unison that no. That my place was with the mational team.

Never, at any moment, did I interfere in any technical or tactical decision of any coach or national team manager in almost 25 years of playing football. I just take it better or worse, depending on what they propose.

I respect the decision, and when they break their word to me, I feel my place is not there.

I also owe an apology to my national team team-mates for having left the camp. Despite the absolute breach of trust in the head coach's word, as anyone who witnessed these conversations can attest, I should not have done it. The responsibility is entirely mine.

I apologise to the Portuguese people once again, but the breaking of one's word has, for me, a defining 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 did not feel useful: I picked up my bags and left.

The consequence of this act of mine must be assessed and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation. I believe the punishment should have no mitigating factors. I am not just any player. I am the team captain, and that is an aggravating factor.

I have already apologised, but I know that actions must have consequences. Anyone in football as I am knows that, regardless of each person's status, the rules are the same for everyone.

In this regard, I have heard a lot of talk about farewell matches, that I must have a dignified farewell and that the Federation wants to give me that opportunity.

I learned in life, going hungry and with nothing to eat, that nobody gives anything to anybody.

I can promise all my fans, naturally and 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 is what I thought about on the day they gave me the news of my father's death. I was at our national team camp and decided to stay there until the end of the next day's match. I therefore did for my country what I would never do for any club.

So, if I am physically well, playing for my club, hopefully with some goals, 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.

This is, believe me, the purest of truths.

Cristiano Ronaldo

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal star breaks silence over national team walkout in statement