Cristiano Ronaldo said on Tuesday he will remain available to represent Portugal should they call him up again in a five-page letter seen by ESPN, while explaining his fallout with coach Jorge Jesus last week. The statement was later shared on Ronaldo's social media channels.
Ronaldo, 41, walked out on the Portugal camp after he was an unused substitute in the side's 2-1 UEFA Nations League win away at Norway on Sept. 27, saying Jesus broke his word to him. However, despite the friction with Jesus, the Al Nassr striker said he has not brought the curtain down on his international career just yet.
"If I am physically fit, playing for my club, scoring goals, I hope, that after serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team," Ronaldo said. Ronaldo, who has scored a record 146 goals in 234 appearances for his country, also gave a detailed explanation of his fallout with Jesus, who coached the former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward in Saudi Arabia between 2025 and 2026.
"I owe my national team teammates an apology for leaving the training camp," Ronaldo said. "Despite the absolute breach of trust in the coach's word, as anyone who witnessed our conversations can testify, I should not have done it. The responsibility is exclusively mine."
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing