Ronaldo reveals the full story of Portugal's decline, exit from training camp and future

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence on his latest controversy with Portugal, offering a detailed account of his spat with national team coach Jorge Jesus, his decision to leave training camp and what he believes went wrong behind the scenes.

Ronaldo said the agreements made with the coach were broken, which left him with a loss of confidence and eventually forced him to leave the team.

The Portugal captain also apologized for leaving the camp, admitted he could face punishment and addressed speculation about a farewell. Despite the bitter row, Ronaldo insisted he remains committed to Portugal and will return to compete and win.

Here is Cristiano Ronaldo’s full statement as reported by Spanish outlet Diaro AS:

“As promised, I decided to give a direct, first-person account of the circumstances surrounding the last phase of my time with the national team.”

After the 2026 World Cup, I prepared a letter to the Portuguese, which I still have, containing the words I want to share with them when I leave our team for good.

After the tournament, on the flight home from the United States, the president of the federation asked me and insisted that I reconsider my decision to leave because the Portuguese Football Federation wanted me to stay.

Immediately afterwards, he asked me for my opinion on the current national team coach, whom he was considering alongside other candidates whose names he did not disclose.

I told the president of the federation that in my opinion it would be the right decision.

So the day the current coach was introduced I was really happy with the selection. It was the right decision, as the results showed.

A few days later, the new national team coach called me for the first time and told me that he wanted to meet me in person. I agreed and we arranged to meet at the end of my vacation.

We met at the Cidade do Futebol, where my club was holding pre-season training.

That day, the coach told me that he was counting on me and that my presence was essential for his project. He outlined a plan for my involvement there and then. He told me that I would play the first and last games and that he would always make three or four substitutions per game for fitness reasons.

At that moment he suggested that I not travel with the national team to Norway and Denmark. He suggested I play the first game and stay in Portugal, then rejoin the team before the game at the Estadio do Dragao.

I immediately declined the offer. It seemed clear to me that I could not accept it. Not playing matches abroad did not mean that I would stop being the captain of our team. Having the privilege of staying in Portugal would not be a good example.

The coach finally agreed with my assessment.

Simao Coutinho, Al Nassr’s sporting director, took part in this interview. He was the man the current national team coach reported to throughout last season and one of those responsible for bringing him to the club in 2025.

On the eve of the training camp, the coach came to my house in Lisbon to talk to me at his request. The conversation was calm and all the principles agreed in August remained in place.

I played in the Alvalade game and although I was a substitute I didn’t cause any problems. I personally put the captain’s armband on Bruno Fernandes without imagining that I might be taking my last steps as a player and captain of the national team. What mattered to me that day was our victory. Winning is always good, but winning in Portugal and for my country is even better.

On the day of the game in Norway, at noon, one of the assistant coaches of the national team approached the table where the group was eating and told me that the coach wanted to talk to me. To my utter surprise, he asked if I was fit enough to play for 30 minutes. I was fully focused on my physical recovery, I got involved with my teammates like I always do, and I thought I wasn’t going to play that day. There was no problem.

This request was out of my recovery and training plan, as I was only supposed to play the fourth at Dragao, but of course I said yes. He replied that I should be ready because I was going to play for 30 minutes.

The rest is history. I warmed up from halftime, watched the minutes tick by and never got called.

The coach didn’t give me a word.

At the end of the game I just wanted it to end with a win and be alone. I didn’t go to appreciate the fans. That was a mistake for which I take full responsibility, and it should not have happened. I apologize to the Portuguese who supported us so passionately, to the fans and to those who, despite not being Portuguese, traveled there to see me and whom I may have let down.

Forty-eight hours later, Coach Coutinho and I spoke because Coutinho was involved in our discussions in August.

It was an intense, very direct conversation that held nothing back.

We agreed that there was only one way to finish this ‘case’: for the coach to repeat in the press room what he had just said to me in private, in Coutinho’s presence.

The deal was simple: the coach would open the press conference by addressing the issue and try to close the matter by telling the truth. He would say I never asked for playing time.

Not even a minute. It was the coach and no one else who designed my plan for this training camp. It was a mistake to let me warm up only to leave me out, and if the same situation happened again, he wouldn’t do it.

We ended the meeting with the coach asking me for a hug, saying that he would say what he just told me at the press conference and that the matter was settled. I wouldn’t play in Denmark, but I would play a match in Porto. All this, as always, took place in Coutinho’s presence.

At the coach’s request, there was a video call between him, Coutinho and Tiago Craveir to summarize what we discussed.

A short document was drawn up which I personally approved and which, with my knowledge, was given to the coach as requested.

The press conference went exactly as expected: his attitude was not at all like our meeting. I heard remarks and aggression that I don’t think were warranted, a “I will, I can and I’m in charge” attitude that I had never heard in private the day before.

The notes I approved were as follows:

“I think it’s important, especially since it’s true, to clarify a few things before we discuss Denmark.”

I personally proposed to Cristiano a plan for this season with the national team, without outside help. It was a long and very productive conversation.
I know how deeply he feels and loves the national team and the image it has around the world. More importantly, I know his position and positive influence in the national team for 24 consecutive years.
The plan I suggested to Cristiano was accepted.
He never questioned my decisions. He was exemplary, loyal and professional.
The game against Norway was not part of the plan I had drawn up for him. However, I felt he had recovered physically from the first game and I told him I might have to use him. Cristiano agreed.
I made the mistake of letting someone of Pele’s or Maradona’s character warm up and then not bringing him into the game. If it happened today, I wouldn’t do it.
In conclusion: I want Cristiano in the national team. In fact, I don’t want him just a little bit; I want him so much. Fortunately, they trust me too. He believed in me at Al Nassr and he still believes in me here.
As for not recognizing the fans, we have already discussed that. Someone who has played more than 230 games for the national team does not expect a lesson from me about the love of Portugal. It was a moment of frustration that nothing erases. He is the player who signs the most autographs, takes the most selfies and shows the most affection to the fans. Let’s not create problems where there are none. When we are unhappy, we react. That’s all.

So none of those notes said the coach apologized to me.

It was the second time my word had been broken.

I decided to leave the training camp rather than wait for more broken promises. For me, the most important thing in relationships between people is the truth. As much as it hurts, I have to tell the truth.

Moreover, in the interview I had this morning at the press conference with the president of the federation and the coach of the national team, which they can certainly confirm, I reiterated that if they don’t want me there, they just have to tell me. They needed to be honest with me. I would accept it and promised that we would prepare something beautiful, as it happens in my dream, and no one would be upset.

I remember it like it was yesterday. They answered in unison, “No.” They said my place is with the national team.

I have never, in my almost 25-year career, interfered in any technical or tactical decision of any club or national team coach. For better or worse, I accept what they suggest. I respect the decision, and if he doesn’t keep his word, I feel like I don’t belong there.

I also owe my teammates an apology for leaving training camp. Despite the complete loss of confidence I expressed in the coach, as anyone who witnessed these conversations can attest to, I should not have done that. The responsibility is mine alone.

I apologize once again to the Portuguese people, but the breaking of my word has deeply affected me. I felt that my presence would only harm the group from that point on, so I did what I always said I would do when I no longer felt useful: I packed up and left.

The Portuguese Football Federation must assess my actions and impose the appropriate punishment. I am convinced that the sentence should not be reduced. I’m not just any gamer; I am the captain of the team and that is an aggravating factor. I’ve already apologized, but I know that actions must have consequences. Anyone involved in football, like me, knows that regardless of an individual’s position, the rules are the same for everyone.

In that regard, I have heard a lot about the farewell games, the need for a proper farewell and the fact that the federation wants to give me this opportunity.

I have learned in life, often when I was hungry and had nothing to eat, that no one gives anything to anyone.

I can promise all my supporters, especially the Portuguese people, that we will play one or more farewell matches. There will be time for that.

But when I think about the national team, what really comes to mind is competition. That’s what I thought the day I learned of my father’s death. I was away with the national team and decided to stay until the next day’s match was over. I did something for my country that I would never do for any club.

So if I’m physically fit, I’ll be playing for my club and hopefully scoring goals, after serving the ban I’ve been given I’ll be available, as I always have been, to compete and win with our national team.

This, believe me, is absolutely true.

Ronaldo

(more to follow)

– The end