Cristiano Ronaldo has made it clear that he is NOT retiring from the Portugal national team, putting an end to the growing speculation that his controversial departure from the squad could mark the end of his international career.
At 41 years old, the Portugal captain has confirmed that he still has the desire to represent his country and compete at the highest level for the national team. Despite the recent dispute that saw him leave Portugal’s training camp and raise questions over his future, Ronaldo insists that he has no intention of walking away from international football. Instead, the legendary forward says he remains available for selection and wants to continue playing, scoring goals and fighting for trophies with Portugal. Ronaldo made it clear that retirement is not currently on his mind, saying he will continue to make himself available as long as he is physically fit and performing for his club. Even if disciplinary action is taken against him following the incident at the national team camp, Ronaldo says he intends to serve any punishment and then return to represent Portugal. The message from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is simple: he is not ready to say goodbye to Portugal yet.
“If I am physically well, playing for my club, with goals I hope, after serving the suspension that may be applied to me, I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team,” Ronaldo said.
His comments come after his decision to leave Portugal’s camp sparked widespread speculation about whether his international career was coming to an unexpected end.
Ronaldo has now removed that uncertainty.
The 41-year-old Al Nassr forward also apologised to his Portugal teammates and the Portuguese people for leaving the squad, while acknowledging that disciplinary action could be taken against him.
The controversy began after Ronaldo was left as an unused substitute during Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League victory away to Norway on September 27.
According to Ronaldo, he had previously reached an agreement with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus regarding his involvement in the matches against Norway and Denmark. Ronaldo claimed that the plan was for him to miss both games as part of an effort to manage his fitness.
However, he says that agreement changed on the day of the Norway match, with Jesus telling him that he would play for 30 minutes.
“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from halftime onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said.
“The manager had broken his word to me.”
Ronaldo claimed it was the second time he felt the manager had failed to honour an agreement between them.
“It was the second time he had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo said. “I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”
Jesus has since denied that he made an agreement with Ronaldo concerning the two matches, although he has left the door open for the veteran forward to return to the national team.
Ronaldo also strongly rejected any suggestion that he had attempted to interfere with the manager’s tactical or technical decisions.
“Never, at any moment, have I interfered in any technical or tactical decision of any coach or national team manager in almost 25 years of career,” Ronaldo said.
“I accept, for better or worse, what they propose that I do. I respect the decision, and when they break their word to me, I feel that my place is not there.”
Despite the dispute, Ronaldo insists his focus is not on arranging a farewell appearance. His priority remains competing for Portugal.
“I have heard a great deal of talk about farewell matches, that I must have a dignified farewell and that the Federation wants to give me that opportunity,” Ronaldo said.
“I learned in life, often hungry and with nothing to eat, that no one gives anything to anyone.”
He added: “I can promise all my fans, naturally and especially all Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches; there will be time for that. But when I think of the national team, what I really think of is competing.”
Ronaldo even recalled remaining with Portugal following the death of his father, explaining how deeply his commitment to representing his country runs.
“That is what I thought on the day I was given the news of my father’s death. I was at a camp with our national team and I decided to stay there until the end of the match the following day. I did for the country what I would never do for any club.”
Ronaldo is Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 146 goals in 234 appearances, and his latest statement makes one thing unmistakably clear:
