Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Silence on Portugal Walkout in Statement
Cristiano Ronaldo has explained why he left Portugal’s camp in Copenhagen, saying in a long Instagram statement that he is not retiring from the national team. According to Sky Sports, the 41-year-old claims head coach Jorge Jesus broke promises to him, and he apologised to team-mates and fans.
What Ronaldo said
Sky Sports reports that the statement ran to nearly 2,000 words across 11 slides, and was posted to his 679 million followers on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Ronaldo claims Jesus told him on the day of the September 27 game in Norway that he would play 30 minutes, then did not bring him on. “The coach had broken his word to me,” he wrote.
Ronaldo also claims that, after a later meeting, Jesus agreed to tell reporters that he had not demanded minutes and that making him warm up without playing was a mistake. He says the press conference did not match that, so he left rather than wait for another broken promise.
He apologised to team-mates and Portuguese fans, including for not applauding supporters in Norway, and asked the Portuguese Football Federation to punish him without leniency. Sky says he added that, if fit and once any suspension ends, he will be available to play for Portugal again.
Jesus’s side and reaction
Sky Sports reports that Jesus said on Sunday the door remained open for Ronaldo’s return. When reporters approached him after the statement was released, he said he had not read it yet and would respond once he had. Sky adds that Jesus has denied that the agreement Ronaldo describes was made.
AFP, as carried by Dhaka Tribune, reported that Jesus said after the Norway game that “there was no incident whatsoever.” Sky also says opinion polls in Portugal suggest most fans back Jesus, and that it has asked the federation for comment.
Background and timeline
Ronaldo is Portugal’s record scorer and appearance-maker, with 146 goals in 234 caps, according to Sky Sports and AFP. AFP says Portugal were knocked out of this year’s World Cup by Spain in the last 16.
In his statement, Ronaldo says he wrote a retirement letter after the tournament but was persuaded to stay by federation president Pedro Proenca, who then asked his view of Jesus as coach. AFP reports, citing Marca, that Jesus and Proenca followed Ronaldo to Copenhagen airport to persuade him to stay.
Quick timeline:
- September 27: Portugal win 2-1 in Norway, with Ronaldo an unused substitute, per Sky.
- September 30: Ronaldo announces he is leaving camp, per AFP.
- October 1: Portugal beat Denmark 4-2 without him.
- October 4: Jesus says the door is open.
- October 6: Ronaldo publishes his statement.
What happens next
The federation has yet to say publicly whether it will act on Ronaldo’s request for punishment. Ronaldo says a suspension may be applied, and Jesus has promised a response. Sky says Ronaldo has promised one or more farewell matches, but said there is time for that.
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