Ronaldo says he deserves punishment for leaving Portugal camp, will not retire
In short
Cristiano Ronaldo said he deserves punishment for leaving the Portugal national team camp and that he will not retire from the national team, in a 10-page statement posted on social media. He said responsibility for the departure was entirely his and apologised to his teammates, while blaming coach Jorge Jesus for breaking promises, including over the Norway match. He said he would be ready to compete for Portugal again once any punishment is served.
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Cristiano Ronaldo said in a 10-page statement posted on social media that he deserved punishment for leaving the Portugal national team camp and that he would not retire from the national team, Yonhap reported. Korean outlets carried the statement on the morning of October 7, Korea time, while Dong-A Ilbo, citing Reuters and other agencies, dated the post to October 6 local time. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Ronaldo said the responsibility for leaving the camp was entirely his and apologised to his teammates. He said his conduct should be assessed and punished by the Portuguese football federation and that, as captain, he should receive a heavier penalty. He added that once any penalty is served he will be ready, as always, to compete and win for the national team. [ 2 , 4 , 7 ]
Ronaldo placed the cause of the dispute on coach Jorge Jesus. He said the coach broke a first promise by not fielding him against Norway and a second by attacking him in a media interview after the game, contrary to what he said was an agreement to state the facts at a press conference. He said the coach asked him on the day of the Norway match whether he could play 30 minutes, that he warmed up from halftime but was not brought on. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Yonhap reported that Ronaldo started against Wales on September 25 and played 67 minutes, then stayed on the bench against Norway three days later, going straight to the locker room instead of greeting travelling Portugal fans; he said not greeting the fans was his responsibility and that he should not have done it. He left the camp on October 1 after the coach said he would not start him against Denmark, according to Yonhap. [ 2 , 7 ]
The outlets described the agreement differently. Yonhap reported the coach said he would not use Ronaldo as a starter against Denmark. Dong-A Ilbo, citing Reuters and other agencies, reported that Ronaldo and the coach had agreed he would not play the Norway and Denmark matches for fitness management, and Hankook Ilbo said the coach asked him on the day of the Norway match whether he could play 30 minutes. [ 2 , 4 , 7 ]
Ronaldo also said he had written a letter for the Portuguese people intended to be delivered after the 2026 World Cup, and that the federation president asked him to reconsider his retirement decision and sought his opinion on a new coach; the current coach was chosen and it was the right choice, he said. No decision or comment from the Portuguese federation and no response from the coach was reported in the documents. [ 2 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The statement turns a squad departure into an open dispute between Portugal's captain and its coach, and Ronaldo says the national federation should assess and punish his conduct, leaving a possible sanction unresolved. Ronaldo is one of the sport's best-known players, and the documents tie the episode to Portugal's Nations League matches this season and to the 2026 World Cup.
Key facts
- Ronaldo posted a long statement on social media — dated October 6 local time by Dong-A Ilbo, citing Reuters, and October 7 Korea time by Yonhap — saying his conduct deserved punishment and that he would not retire from the national team. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- He said he took full responsibility for leaving the camp and apologised to his teammates. [ 2 , 4 , 7 ]
- He said his conduct should be assessed and punished by the Portuguese football federation and that, as captain, he should receive a heavier punishment. [ 2 , 4 , 7 ]
- He said coach Jorge Jesus broke promises, including over his use in the Norway match, and attacked him in the media. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Yonhap reported he started against Wales on September 25 and played 67 minutes, then left the camp on October 1 after the coach said he would not start him against Denmark. [ 2 , 7 ]
- He said he had written a letter for the Portuguese people to be delivered after the 2026 World Cup and that the federation president asked him to reconsider his retirement. [ 2 , 7 ]
- He said that once any punishment is served he will be ready, as always, to compete and win for the national team. [ 2 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Ronaldo said his departure from the Portugal camp deserved punishment and that he would not retire from the national team. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- He said the responsibility for leaving the camp was entirely his and apologised to his teammates. [ 2 , 4 , 7 ]
- He said coach Jorge Jesus broke promises, including over his use in the Norway match. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- He said he should be assessed and punished by the Portuguese football federation and receive a heavier penalty as captain. [ 2 , 4 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- What Ronaldo and the coach agreed about the Norway and Denmark matches The documents describe the agreement differently: Yonhap reports the coach said he would not start Ronaldo against Denmark, while Dong-A Ilbo, citing Reuters, says the two had agreed he would not play the Norway and Denmark matches for fitness management, and Hankook Ilbo says the coach asked him on the day of the Norway match whether he could play 30 minutes.
- Whether the Portuguese football federation will discipline Ronaldo and in what form Ronaldo said his conduct should be evaluated and punished, but no decision or comment from the federation is reported in the documents.
- The coach's response to Ronaldo's account No reaction from Jorge Jesus appears in the documents.
- The coach's name as spelled by the outlets Korean outlets render the Portugal coach's name differently — 호르헤 헤수스 in Chosun Ilbo documents and 조르즈/조르제 제주스 in Yonhap, Dong-A Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo — with no explanation of whether these refer to one person.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Ronaldo starts for Portugal against Wales in the Nations League and plays 67 minutes. [ 2 ]
- He stays on the bench against Norway and goes straight to the locker room instead of greeting travelling Portugal fans. [ 2 ]
- Ronaldo leaves the national team camp. [ 2 , 7 ]
- Local time: Ronaldo posts the statement on social media, according to Dong-A Ilbo, citing Reuters and other agencies. [ 4 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes its report on Ronaldo's statement. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap publishes a detailed account citing Ronaldo's social media post. [ 2 ]
- Korea Economic Daily publishes its report. [ 3 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the statement, citing Reuters and other agencies. [ 4 ]
- Hankook Ilbo publishes its account of the statement and the camp timeline. [ 7 ]
- Newsis publishes its report on the statement. [ 9 ]