Ronaldo wants Portugal punishment but rules out retirement
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, says in a nearly 2,000-word statement that he deserves to be punished by the Portuguese federation after walking out on the national team following two broken promises by coach Jorge Jesus.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, confirms he is not retiring from international football with Portugal.
- The forward states in a lengthy statement that he accepts full accountability and wants to be punished.
- He accuses national coach Jorge Jesus of an absolute breach of trust after breaking promises twice.
- Ronaldo aims to return for the national team after his suspension while chasing 1,000 career goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo has firmly shut down speculation regarding his international retirement, confirming his desire to continue representing Portugal despite recently walking out of their UEFA Nations League training camp. The 41-year-old captain departed the squad last week after remaining an unused substitute against Norway and discovering he would not start against Denmark.
In a comprehensive statement running to nearly 2,000 words, the Al-Nassr forward—who holds the world record of 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal—insisted that he must be held accountable for his actions. He explicitly stated that the Portuguese Football Federation should penalize him and asserted that his punishment should not be reduced.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner targeted 72-year-old head coach Jorge Jesus, accusing him of an absolute breach of trust. According to Ronaldo, Jesus initially agreed to rest him for the Norway and Denmark fixtures to manage his fitness, only to reverse the decision on matchday by telling him he would play for 30 minutes, alongside a subsequent disagreement over how to address the media.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
"The Portuguese Football Federation must assess the consequences of my actions and punish me for them. I believe the punishment should not be reduced. I have already apologised, but I know that actions have consequences."
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo revealed he had previously considered retiring after this summer's World Cup, where Portugal exited in the last-16 stage, and had even written a farewell letter to fans. However, FPF president Pedro Proenca urged him to reconsider during the flight home from the United States. His departure sparked contrasting reactions in his homeland, dividing opinion between supporters of the coach and loyal fans of the legendary player, though Ronaldo offered formal apologies to his teammates and the Portuguese people.
This high-profile dispute between Portugal's all-time greatest player and their head coach represents a critical test of squad management for the national setup. While Ronaldo's call for self-accountability helps temper the immediate backlash, balancing the immense influence of a 41-year-old superstar remains a delicate challenge. Meanwhile, his relentless pursuit of a milestone 1,000 career goals continues to drive his club and international ambitions.
Ronaldo has since returned to Saudi Arabia to resume training with Al-Nassr. He has accumulated 979 career goals across spells with Portugal, Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr. He maintained that once his suspension period concludes and provided he remains physically fit, he remains fully available to compete and win with the national team in their upcoming Nations League fixtures.
Source: BBC Sport
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