Ronaldo Breaks Silence After Portugal Walkout and Accepts Punishment

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence after walking out of the Portugal squad, accusing head coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word twice while apologising for leaving the camp and saying he will accept whatever punishment the federation hands down.

The dispute began late last month. On 27 September, Portugal beat Norway 2-1 away in the Nations League, and Ronaldo was an unused substitute. He warmed up for the entire second half and never got the call. Three days later, on 30 September, he walked out of the squad in Copenhagen after learning he would not start against Denmark. He was reportedly in Madrid within hours, then on his way back to Riyadh to rejoin Al Nassr.

Jesus took over from Roberto Martinez after the World Cup. On Sunday, the coach said Ronaldo could come back into the fold, “if he wants to.” He said he had told Ronaldo from day one: “I need you, playing or not playing, I need you close to me.” The federation president, Pedro Proenca, backed Ronaldo too, calling him the greatest player in history and saying his place in the squad is justified whenever he is fit.

On Tuesday, Ronaldo finally spoke himself, in a statement shared with Reuters. He accused Jesus of breaking his word twice. First, he says the coach promised him thirty minutes against Norway, then never sent him on. Second, he says they agreed Jesus would tell the press his absence was a technical decision, and then Jesus changed his story in front of the cameras.

Ronaldo also took responsibility. He apologised to his teammates and to the Portuguese people for walking out, and said he will accept whatever suspension or fine the federation hands down. On the question of whether he is done with Portugal, the answer was no. “I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team,” he said, provided he is physically well and playing for his club after serving any suspension that may be applied.

He rejected talk of a dignified farewell, saying competing is what the national team means to him, and recalled staying at a Portugal camp until the end of a match the day after learning of his father's death. “I did for the country,” he said, “what I would never do for any club.” Jesus told reporters he has not read the statement, so the next step sits with the federation — punishment first, then Portugal's next matches in November. Ronaldo is forty-one, still scoring for Al Nassr, and has said this will probably be his final year.

From the October 8 episode of The Football Briefing Room.