Cristiano Ronaldo has issued a lengthy statement accusing Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus of going back on an agreed fitness-management plan, explaining that the dispute drove him to leave the national team’s training camp ahead of last week’s Nations League match against Denmark, though he insists he remains available to play for Portugal once any punishment has been served.
Cristiano Ronaldo has publicly accused Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word on two separate occasions, in a detailed statement explaining the breakdown that led him to leave the national squad’s camp in Copenhagen before last week’s Nations League fixture against Denmark. The 41-year-old, Portugal’s captain and all-time leading scorer, said the dispute originated from an agreed plan to manage his fitness across the season, which he claims the coach failed to honour both during Portugal’s match against Norway and in the aftermath.
A broken agreement over playing time
According to Ronaldo, he and Jesus had originally agreed that he would not play in either the Norway or Denmark fixtures, as part of a wider plan to manage his workload throughout the season. However, Ronaldo says that on the day of the Norway match, Jesus informed him that his physical condition had improved and that he might be used for around 30 minutes. Ronaldo accepted the change and warmed up for a substantial period of the match, only to never be brought on. “Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from half-time onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said. “The manager had broken his word to me.”
An eight-point document and a second broken promise
Following the Norway match, Ronaldo says a meeting took place involving Jesus and Al Nassr sporting director Simão Coutinho, during which an eight-point document was reportedly produced. According to Ronaldo, the document stated that he had accepted the management plan, had never demanded playing time, and that Jesus himself considered it a mistake to have asked him to warm up without ultimately using him. Ronaldo says Jesus agreed that these points would form the basis of a public explanation at his next press conference, and that the agreement did not require Jesus to personally apologise to him.
However, Ronaldo claims the coach’s subsequent public comments bore no resemblance to what had been privately agreed between them. “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 added that Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) official Tiago Craveiro was also involved in later discussions surrounding the dispute.
Ronaldo says he asked to be told directly if unwanted
Ronaldo said that before Jesus held his press conference, he had asked both the coach and FPF president Pedro Proença to tell him directly if they no longer wanted him in the national team setup. According to Ronaldo, neither man asked him to leave. He also revealed that he had personally supported Jesus’s appointment as Portugal manager, saying Proença had consulted him on potential candidates and that he had backed Jesus for the role.
Ronaldo considered international retirement
In his statement, Ronaldo disclosed that he had seriously considered retiring from international football following the 2026 World Cup, and said he had even written a farewell message to the Portuguese public before the FPF persuaded him to continue playing for the national team.
Apology and acceptance of responsibility
Ronaldo accepted responsibility for leaving Portugal’s training camp, acknowledging that his conduct was particularly serious given his role as team captain. He also apologised for failing to greet supporters following the Norway match, attributing the incident to his frustration at the time. “The consequences of my actions must be assessed and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation,” he said.
Despite the dispute, Ronaldo made clear he does not consider his international career to be effectively over, nor is he seeking a farewell appearance alone. “If I’m physically fit, playing for my club – scoring goals, I hope – after serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I’ll be available, as I’ve always been until now, to compete and win for our national team,” he said. Notably, Ronaldo has not called for Jesus to be sacked, and has stated he remains available to return to the Portugal squad once any punishment has been served, provided he is fit and playing regularly for Al Nassr.
Jesus denies an agreement was made
Speaking on Sunday following Portugal’s win over Norway, Jesus denied that any formal agreement had been made with Ronaldo regarding the handling of the situation, though he indicated that the door remained open for the striker’s eventual return to the national team. The FPF did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Ronaldo’s statement.
Despite the ongoing dispute, Portugal have continued to perform well on the pitch, recording two victories over Norway during this period, including one match played without Ronaldo in the squad.
