Lisbon (AFP) - Portugal coach Jorge Jesus said on Friday that he expected Cristiano Ronaldo to return to the national team despite a dispute that received widespread media coverage between them, but he stressed his respect for the veteran striker's decision to retire from international football.

Published on: 06/11/2026 - 16:53

Ronaldo (41 years old) announced on Thursday that he would not play again for the Portugal national team, bringing down the curtain on an international career full of records that ended bitterly.

Jesus told reporters after announcing the national team's lineup for the upcoming matches between Denmark and Wales in the European Nations League: "Of course I thought he would return, and of course I thought I would call him up, and of course I thought I would talk to him, but he must be respected."

"He decided that it was time to leave the national team," he added.

Ronaldo played his first match with Portugal in 2003, before setting a world record by participating in 234 international matches, during which he scored 146 goals, which is also a record.

But his speed and sharpness declined with age, and he also entered into a dispute with Jesus at the end of September.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner accused his coach of not fulfilling his promises, after he asked him to warm up during a match against Norway without including him in the match. Ronaldo left the national team camp immediately, and was punished with a 30-day suspension and a symbolic fine.

Ronaldo apologized, and rumors circulated about his intention to return to the Portuguese national team, but instead he announced his retirement from international football.

“It was bound to happen sooner or later,” Jesus said. “He felt that this was the best time to leave, and we have to respect that, without ever forgetting what he represented for Portugal.”

The 72-year-old coach, who previously coached Ronaldo at the Saudi Al-Nasr Club, stressed that the interest of the national team was always his top priority.

He said: “All my decisions were made with the national team’s interests in mind,” adding, “I do not feel any guilt at all about his departure.”

Portugal has secured its qualification to the quarter-finals of the European Nations League, and will host Denmark in Braga on November 14, before hosting Wales three days later.

Jesus extended an invitation for the first time to Montsa striker Gustavo Varela, currently the top scorer in the Italian League, and to Porto right-back Alberto Cochetta, while Paris Saint-Germain's French defender Nuno Mendes and Juventus' Italian winger Francisco Conceicao are absent due to injury.

Two young men, Rodrigo Moura (Roma, Italy) and Giovanni Cuenda (Chelsea, England), who have not participated internationally so far, also returned to the squad, in addition to Club Brugge's Belgian striker, Carlos Forbes, who played his first international match last year.

© 2026 AFP

The content you want to browse is no longer in service or is currently unavailable.