Leiria, where Portugal’s Under-21 side were playing, became the setting for the latest turn in Cristiano Ronaldo’s dispute with the senior national team. After leaving the Portugal camp following the first match of the recent international break, against Norway on Sunday 27 September, the Al-Nassr forward has issued a forceful public statement aimed at coach Jorge Jesus.
Ronaldo breaks his silence after leaving camp
The Madeira-born striker departed the squad after Portugal’s opening fixture against Norway and addressed the episode on Tuesday through a statement circulated to Portuguese media.
- Ronaldo said Jorge Jesus had failed to keep a promise made to him.
- In the same message, he placed his own standing in football alongside Pelé and Diego Maradona.
- The 40-year-old made clear that he does not consider his Portugal career finished despite the current conflict.
His statement left the door open for a return once any punishment imposed by the Portuguese Football Federation has been served. Ronaldo said that, provided he is physically fit, playing for Al-Nassr and scoring goals, he expects to remain available to represent Portugal.
Jesus declines to answer immediately
Jorge Jesus was approached by local reporters while in his car after Ronaldo’s statement became public. The Portugal coach said he had been in Leiria to watch the country’s Under-21 match and had not yet read the forward’s words.
Asked whether he had broken his commitment to Ronaldo, Jesus offered no direct response. “I will read the statement now,” he said, adding that he had nothing further to say at that point.
A return remains possible
Ronaldo’s position is that any absence need not become permanent. He said he would be ready, as he has been throughout his international career, to compete and seek victories with Portugal once he has completed any suspension and meets the required physical and club-playing conditions.
For now, the disagreement between Portugal’s most recognisable player and the coach remains unresolved, with Jesus yet to deliver a fuller reaction to the claims made from the Al-Nassr forward’s camp.
