Cristiano Ronaldo has apologised for walking out of Portugal's national team camp, while accusing head coach Jorge Jesus of twice breaking his word over playing time, in a nearly 2,000-word statement released on Tuesday that lays bare the rupture between the captain and his coach.
Ronaldo, 41, walked out of the squad in Copenhagen on September 30, a day before Portugal's Nations League match against Denmark, after being told he would not start. In the statement, shared as an 11-page Instagram post, he said he owed apologies to his teammates, the fans and the Portuguese people — but insisted he had been responding to what he called the coach's "broken word".
Ronaldo's account
According to Ronaldo, Jesus — who took charge after Portugal's 2026 World Cup exit and previously coached him at Al Nassr — had agreed a plan under which the forward would sit out the Norway and Denmark away matches to manage his workload. On the day of the September 27 game against Norway, however, Ronaldo says he was asked to prepare to play 30 minutes. He agreed, warmed up from half-time, and was never called on. "The manager had broken his word to me," he said.
Ronaldo says a subsequent meeting with Jesus, attended by Al Nassr sporting director Simao Coutinho, produced an agreement that the coach would clarify events at his next news conference, with an eight-point document prepared. Instead, he claims, Jesus's public remarks bore no resemblance to their private discussion: "It was the second time he had broken his word to me."
Denial and an open door
Jesus, 72, has denied making any such agreement, saying so publicly on Sunday after Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway — a match in which Ronaldo was an unused substitute and walked down the tunnel at full-time without greeting the travelling fans. The coach nevertheless left the door open for Ronaldo's return. The Portuguese Football Federation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the statement.
Ronaldo apologised for failing to acknowledge supporters in Oslo and for leaving his teammates, writing that "the consequences of my actions must be assessed and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation". He added that he remains available for selection and is not limiting his international ambitions to a farewell appearance.
Sources: Al Jazeera — Ronaldo apologises for Portugal walkout; says Jesus broke promise | USA Today — Ronaldo apologizes for leaving Portugal camp, blames Jorge Jesus for broken promises
Ronaldo, 41, walked out of the squad in Copenhagen on September 30, a day before Portugal's Nations League match against Denmark, after being told he would not start. In the statement, shared as an 11-page Instagram post, he said he owed apologies to his teammates, the fans and the Portuguese people — but insisted he had been responding to what he called the coach's "broken word".
Ronaldo's account
According to Ronaldo, Jesus — who took charge after Portugal's 2026 World Cup exit and previously coached him at Al Nassr — had agreed a plan under which the forward would sit out the Norway and Denmark away matches to manage his workload. On the day of the September 27 game against Norway, however, Ronaldo says he was asked to prepare to play 30 minutes. He agreed, warmed up from half-time, and was never called on. "The manager had broken his word to me," he said.
Ronaldo says a subsequent meeting with Jesus, attended by Al Nassr sporting director Simao Coutinho, produced an agreement that the coach would clarify events at his next news conference, with an eight-point document prepared. Instead, he claims, Jesus's public remarks bore no resemblance to their private discussion: "It was the second time he had broken his word to me."
Denial and an open door
Jesus, 72, has denied making any such agreement, saying so publicly on Sunday after Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway — a match in which Ronaldo was an unused substitute and walked down the tunnel at full-time without greeting the travelling fans. The coach nevertheless left the door open for Ronaldo's return. The Portuguese Football Federation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the statement.
Ronaldo apologised for failing to acknowledge supporters in Oslo and for leaving his teammates, writing that "the consequences of my actions must be assessed and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation". He added that he remains available for selection and is not limiting his international ambitions to a farewell appearance.
Sources: Al Jazeera — Ronaldo apologises for Portugal walkout; says Jesus broke promise | USA Today — Ronaldo apologizes for leaving Portugal camp, blames Jorge Jesus for broken promises
