Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football after a 23-year Portugal career that brought 234 caps and 146 goals. The 41-year-old confirmed the decision on social media on Thursday morning, a move that follows a dispute with head coach Jorge Jesus during the last international break. According to Skysports.com.
Ronaldo quits Portugal after fallout with Jorge Jesus over Norway benching
Ronaldo’s retirement follows a breakdown in his relationship with head coach Jorge Jesus, who succeeded Roberto Martinez after the World Cup. Ronaldo started Jesus’s first game, a 1-0 win against Wales, but was benched for a 2-1 win against Norway and did not come on. He left the national team camp on the eve of facing Denmark on October 1.
Ronaldo claimed that on the day of the Norway game Jesus told him he would play 30 minutes, an assurance he says was not honoured. He said he warmed up from half-time onwards without being called on, and that “The coach had broken his word to me.” Jesus denied there was a rift and later denied any such agreement.
Ronaldo and Jesus, who previously worked together at Al Nassr, held a meeting after the Norway game that Al Nassr sporting director Simao Coutinho also attended. According to Ronaldo, Jesus agreed to clarify that his captain never demanded minutes and that warming him up without bringing him on was a mistake.
Ronaldo admitted he should never have left the camp, even while citing what he called a breach of trust. He apologised to team-mates and the Portuguese people and said he would accept whatever punishment the Portuguese Football Federation handed down, which turned out to be a 30-day ban and a £215 fine.
Ronaldo publicly admitted in the last international break that he had considered ending his Portugal career after the World Cup, and a statement on Instagram revealed he had written his retirement statement but was dissuaded by Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca on the plane back from North America.
Ronaldo finishes with 146 goals in 234 caps, having debuted in 2003 and played in 12 major tournaments: six World Cups and six European Championships. Portugal won Euro 2016 with him, along with the Nations League in 2019 and 2025, before exiting the most recent World Cup in the round of 16, beaten by Spain.
The Portuguese Football Federation has paid tribute to its now-former captain, crediting his dedication and saying a fitting tribute will be paid to him in the future. His final game for Portugal was the 1-0 win against Wales. Announcing the decision, Ronaldo captioned his post “Portugal will always be in me.”
