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As he had pledged the previous week, Cristiano Ronaldo has delivered what he calls the "absolute truth" behind his decision to leave Portugal's September-October international camp, releasing a sensational, lengthy, and detailed statement that sent shockwaves through the entire soccer world.
Ronaldo suddenly departed Portugal's camp last week with two UEFA Nations League matches still remaining in the international window, with reports immediately suggesting a falling-out between the legendary forward and Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus.
Just under a week later, on the very same day his long-standing rival Lionel Messi announced his retirement from Argentina and international soccer, Ronaldo published a nearly 2,000-word statement outlining the events that led to his Portugal departure, directing criticism at Jesus while confirming he has no plans to retire from the national team.
"This is the truth on what has happened with Jorge Jesus," Ronaldo's statement began. "As I promised, I decided to recount, in the first person and directly, the circumstances surrounding the last training camp of the national team."
What followed was a remarkably thorough account in which Ronaldo addressed a wide range of topics.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Full Statement
Ronaldo Prepared to Retire After 2026 World Cup, Portugal Asked Him to Stay
"After the 2026 World Cup, I prepared a letter to the Portuguese people, which I still keep, with the words I want to address to them when I leave our team for good. At the end of the competition, already on the flight back from the United States, the President of the Federation (FPF) asked and insisted that I reconsider the decision to leave, because the FPF wanted me to continue.
"Right afterwards he asked me for my opinion on the name of the current head coach, which he was considering alongside other names he did not reveal to me. I told the President of the Federation that, in my opinion, it would be the right choice. That is why, on the day the current head coach was presented, I was genuinely happy with the choice. It was the right option, as the results are confirming.
Meeting Jorge Jesus for First Time, Making Plans for Fall International Window
"A few days later I received a first contact from the new national team coach saying he would like to meet me in person. I said yes and we scheduled it for the end of my holidays. We met at the Cidade do Futebol, where my club was holding its preseason training camp. That day the coach told me he was counting on me and that my presence was fundamental to his project. He presented me, right there, with a plan for my participation. He told me I would play the first match and the last one, and that for reasons of physical management he would always make three to four changes per match.
"At that point he raised the possibility of me not traveling with the national team to Norway and Denmark. He proposed that I play the first match and stay in Portugal, then rejoin before the match at the Dragão. I refused this proposal immediately. It seemed obvious to me that I could not accept it. It was not because I would not play the matches abroad that I would stop captaining our team. That privilege of staying in Portugal would not be a good example. The coach ended up agreeing with my point of view.
"This conversation was attended by Simão Coutinho, sporting director of Al Nassr, the person to whom the current head coach reported throughout last season and one of those responsible for his signing by the club in 2025. On the eve of the start of the camp the coach came to my house in Lisbon, at his request, for another conversation with me. The conversation was calm and all the principles agreed in August were maintained. I played the match at Alvalade and, although substituted, I made no problem of it. I put the armband on Bruno Fernandes myself, far from 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; in Portugal and for my country, even better.
Asked to Play Against Norway, Then Benched
"At lunchtime on the day of the match in Norway, an assistant to the head coach approached the table where the squad was eating and informed me that the head coach wished to speak with me. To my complete surprise, the head coach asked whether I was fit enough to play 30 minutes. I had been fully focused on my physical recovery, integrated with my teammates as always, and expecting that I would not feature that day. Without any issue. This request fell outside my physical recovery and training plan, as I was only scheduled to play on the 4th [of October] at the Dragão, but I naturally said yes. He replied that I should be ready because I would play 30 minutes. The rest is well known. I warmed up from half-time, watched the minutes pass, and was never called upon.
"The head coach had failed to keep his word.
"At the end of the match I simply wanted everything to end with a victory and to be left in peace. I did not go to greet the fans. That is a failing that is entirely my own responsibility and should not have happened. I apologize to the Portuguese supporters who cheered us on so passionately there, I apologize to the fans, and I apologize to those who, without being Portuguese, may have traveled there to see me and whom I may have let down.