Ronaldo says he left Portugal squad over broken promises, signals return
In short
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, said he left the Portugal national team during the current window because coach Jorge Jesus broke promises made to him, in a statement posted on his social media on October 6. In the statement he said he has not ended his international career and is ready to fight for the team again. Portugal's football federation president, Pedro Proença, was involved in persuading him to continue, and Ronaldo apologised to his teammates and to Portuguese people.
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Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, who plays for Al Nassr, said he left the Portugal national team during the current window because coach Jorge Jesus broke promises made to him, and indicated he could return, according to a statement he posted on his social media on October 6. Nikkei and Mynavi News reported the statement; Mynavi cited the sports outlet ESPN. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to his statement, as reported by Mynavi News and Nikkei, he had been due to sit out the UEFA Nations League match against Norway on September 27 for conditioning reasons. He said the coach then asked whether he was ready to play 30 minutes, and that he answered yes, warmed up from half-time, but was never brought on. Mynavi News said it was his first match without an appearance in 18 years. [ 2 , 3 ]
Ronaldo said the problem was not the Norway match itself but what he described as a second broken promise: a press conference held two days later ahead of a match against Denmark, where he said the coach gave comments unrelated to what the two had agreed and adopted what Ronaldo called an aggressive attitude towards him. [ 2 ]
He said he has not finished his Portugal career and is ready, once physically fit, playing and scoring at club level and after serving a suspension, to fight for the team as before. He apologised to his teammates for leaving the camp and to the Portuguese people, saying the responsibility was entirely his, and Mynavi News reported that the persuasion of Portugal football federation president Pedro Proença and his own cooling down led him to decide to continue. [ 2 ]
Before the post, coach Jorge Jesus had said after the October 4 match that Ronaldo would come back if he wanted to, that they could talk before the next call-up, and that Ronaldo should decide how his national team career ends. Ronaldo's statement was posted on social media on October 6; Yahoo! News Japan described it as posted on the 7th in Japan time. [ 1 , 2 ]
Mynavi News reported that Ronaldo holds the world records for Portugal appearances and goals, with 234 caps and 146 goals. In his statement he said the consequences of his actions would be dealt with by the federation; the documents do not state what those consequences are. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
Ronaldo is described by Mynavi News, citing ESPN, as holding the world records for Portugal appearances and goals, so his public dispute with the coach and his decision to stay on shape the squad ahead of the next call-up. The documents also leave open how Portugal's football federation will handle the consequences of his departure from the camp.
Key facts
- Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, who plays for Al Nassr, left the Portugal squad during the current international window, according to a statement he posted on his social media on October 6. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ronaldo said the reason was that coach Jorge Jesus broke promises made to him, rather than his non-appearance against Norway. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- According to his statement, he was asked to prepare to play 30 minutes against Norway on September 27 and agreed, but was never sent on. [ 2 , 3 ]
- He said he has not ended his Portugal career and is ready to fight and contribute for the national team again. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Mynavi News, citing ESPN, said Ronaldo has 234 Portugal appearances and 146 goals, both world records. [ 2 ]
- Ronaldo apologised to his teammates for leaving the camp and to the Portuguese people, saying the responsibility was entirely his. [ 2 ]
- Mynavi News reported that Portugal football federation president Pedro Proença persuaded him and that he had calmed down, leading him to decide to continue his national team career. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Ronaldo left the Portugal squad during the current window and explained the decision in a statement on his social media on October 6. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ronaldo said coach Jorge Jesus broke a promise to him. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ronaldo indicated he could return to the national team and is ready to play for Portugal. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether and when Ronaldo will be called up again, and how the Portuguese football federation will handle the consequences of his departure. Mynavi News's article breaks off as Ronaldo says the consequences of his actions will be handled by the FPF, so the outcome is not stated in the documents.
- The exact content of the second promise Ronaldo says was broken, and the coach's own account of the events. The account comes from Ronaldo's statement as reported by Mynavi News, citing ESPN; the documents contain no response from Jorge Jesus to these claims.
- The date on which Ronaldo's statement was posted, which appears differently across outlets. Mynavi News and Nikkei date the post to October 6, while Yahoo! News Japan describes it as posted on the 7th in Japan time.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yahoo! News Japan reports that Cristiano Ronaldo said on social media he left the Portugal squad and attributes it to discord with coach Jorge Jesus. [ 1 ]
- Mynavi News, citing ESPN, publishes a detailed account of Ronaldo's long statement, including his apology and his wish to keep playing for Portugal. [ 2 ]
- Nikkei reports that Ronaldo said in his Instagram statement that the coach broke a promise, and that he suggested he could return. [ 3 ]