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Cristiano Ronaldo Confirms He Will Not Retire From Portugal Despite Row With Jorge Jesus

Cristiano Ronaldo says he is not retiring from the Portugal national team, explains why he left the squad after a row with coach Jorge Jesus, and promises one or more farewell matches.

JdwelKora Team 7 October 2026 · 12:27 am Updated 11 October 2026 4 min read

رونالدو يؤكد أنه لن يعتزل اللعب الدولي رغم خلافه مع مدرب البرتغال جورجي جيسوس

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has ended speculation about his international future. In a lengthy Instagram statement on 6 October 2026, he confirmed he is not retiring from the Portugal national team. The statement came days after he left the squad following a public row with head coach Jorge Jesus.

Key points

Ronaldo says he is not retiring and will stay available while he is physically well and playing for his club.
He left Portugal’s camp in Copenhagen after the Norway game.
He accuses coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word twice.
He promises fans one or more farewell matches.
Portuguese FA president Pedro Proença called it a misunderstanding to be resolved internally.

What did Ronaldo say about retirement?

Ronaldo revealed he wrote a farewell letter to the Portuguese people after the 2026 World Cup and still has it, but federation president Pedro Proença asked and insisted that he reconsider.

He said that if he is physically well and playing for his club, Al Nassr, he will be available for the national team, and promised “one or more farewell matches” when the time comes.

Why did Ronaldo leave the Portugal camp?

This is Ronaldo’s account, as reported by Sky Sports and Sports Illustrated:

The Norway game and the first promise

Portugal won 2-1 away to Norway in the Nations League on 27 September, with Ronaldo an unused substitute. He says Jesus asked him before the game to play around 30 minutes; he agreed and warmed up from half-time but never came on. In his words, “the coach had broken his word to me.”

The press conference and the second promise

Ronaldo says the two agreed that Jesus would clarify the matter in public, but that the coach then took a different line at his press conference, which Ronaldo calls the second time he broke his word. After a conversation with the federation president, Ronaldo left the camp in Copenhagen before the Denmark game.

The Portuguese Football Federation’s position

Federation president Pedro Proença told reporters, per ESPN, that it was a misunderstanding to be resolved internally. Reports also say Ronaldo apologised to his teammates and the public and did not ask the federation to overlook what happened, leaving room for disciplinary action. No decision has been announced.

Ronaldo’s Portugal numbers

Ronaldo has 146 goals in 234 caps, per Sky Sports: the most goals and appearances of any men’s international player. He has represented Portugal for nearly 25 years.

What is confirmed and what is not?

Confirmed: Ronaldo himself said he is not retiring, he left the camp after the Norway game, and he promised a future farewell match.

One side of the story: the details of the dispute are Ronaldo’s account; we found no detailed response from Jesus to these claims.

Unconfirmed: when he will return, when a farewell game would be played, and whether the federation will sanction him.

FAQ

Has Cristiano Ronaldo retired from international football?

No. Ronaldo confirmed in a statement on 6 October 2026 that he is not retiring from the Portugal national team.

Why did Ronaldo leave the Portugal squad?

Because of a row with coach Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo says Jesus promised him minutes against Norway and did not bring him on, then went back on an agreement about the press conference.

Will Ronaldo have a farewell match?

Yes. He promised one or more farewell matches, without giving a date.

What next?

Ronaldo’s return depends on the internal resolution the federation president mentioned and on any disciplinary decision. We will update this article when anything is announced officially.