Table of Contents
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus admitted he was completely unaware of Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to retire from international football until the news broke publicly.
Squad Selection and Surprise Announcement
The 41-year-old forward announced his retirement via an Instagram video on Thursday, just a day before Jesus planned to unveil his squad for upcoming Nations League fixtures. Speaking at a Friday news conference, Jesus stated that Ronaldo did not inform him beforehand and was originally included in his intended squad list.
“I found out when we all did,” Jesus told reporters, adding that he knew nothing about the decision until then. “He was playing, he was scoring goals; he was one of the players on my squad list.”
Ronaldo’s retirement follows the completion of a 30-day suspension from international duty, which did not overlap with any national team fixtures. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner previously departed the Portugal camp in September after learning he would not start against Denmark.
Past Disputes and Historic Record
Following that departure, Ronaldo stated that Jesus had broken his word, though he accepted punishment and insisted at the time that he was not retiring. When journalists questioned Jesus about the past dispute during Friday’s conference, the manager grew visibly annoyed.
“All my decisions were made with the team in mind,” Jesus stated. “As a manager, I have always defended what was best for the team. I am at peace with my decision.”
Ronaldo last played for his country on 24 September in a 1-0 victory over Wales in Lisbon, remaining an unused substitute against Norway three days later. His career concludes with men’s world records of 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal since his 2003 debut, alongside a victory at Euro 2016.
Tributes From Football Officials
Although Jesus mentioned he had not spoken to Ronaldo since the retirement announcement, Portuguese Football Federation (PFF) president Pedro Proenca promised to properly honour the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star.
“No tribute will ever be enough to thank him for everything he has done for Portuguese football, for Portugal,” Proenca said. “The best way to honour and celebrate him is to honour his boundless ambition, to always play to win, to never be afraid of being the best in the world. Thank you for everything, captain. This is and always will be your home.”
