Ronaldo rules out international retirement but apologises for Portugal exit

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Cristiano Ronaldo has promised to have “one or more farewell matches” after confirming he will not retire from international duty with Portugal following a rift with Jorge Jesus. 

Ronaldo announced he had left Portugal’s Nations League squad ahead of their 4-2 win over Denmark last week and said he would “tell people the truth” about his decision.

The 41-year-old started in the Selecao’s 1-0 win over Wales but was taken off in the 67th minute before being an unused substitute in Portugal’s 2-1 victory against Norway. 

In a lengthy statement posted on social media, Ronaldo said that Jesus had “broken his word” after saying that he would play him for the final 30 minutes against Stale Solbakken’s side.

But has now apologised for his actions and said he would accept whatever punishment came his way, but Ronaldo refused to draw the curtain on his career with Portugal. 

“I decided to leave the camp without waiting for any further breach of word,” one part of Ronaldo’s statement read.

“For me, the truth is still the most important thing in the relationship between people. However much it hurts, let them tell me the truth.

“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 my career.

“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.

“I also owe an apology to my national team teammates for having left the camp. Despite the absolute breach of trust in the coach’s word, as those who witnessed these conversations can attest, I should not have done it. The responsibility is exclusively mine.

Após a conferência de imprensa do Selecionador Nacional, e no seguimento de uma conversa com o Presidente da Federação Portuguesa de Futebol, tomei a decisão de deixar o estágio da Seleção Nacional. A seu tempo, direi a verdade a todos os Portugueses sobre as razões que motivaram a minha saída da equipa nacional, à qual sempre me dediquei. Agora é tempo de desejar boa sorte a Portugal e a todos os meus companheiros de equipa, sem exceção.

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) September 30, 2026

“On this subject, I have heard a great deal 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, often hungry and with nothing to eat, that no one gives anything to anyone. 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.

“Therefore, 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. This is, believe me, the purest of truths.”

Ronaldo’s 146 goals in 234 caps are the most by any male player in international football history, while he is one of only two players to feature in six editions of the World Cup.

However, since the start of 2025, Portugal have won 80% of their matches when Ronaldo has not appeared (P5 W4 D1), compared to just 59% when he has featured (P17 W10 D4 L3), also averaging almost twice as many goals per game without the five-time Ballon d’Or winner (3.4) than with him (1.9).

Jesus has left the door open for a potential return to Portugal’s squad, with the defending Nations League champions next in action against Denmark on November 14. 

Portugal have already qualified for the next round of the Nations League having taken 12 points from their opening four Group A4 games.

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