Cristiano Ronaldo stated, in a statement published on October 6, 2026, that he decided to leave the Portuguese national team camp after the coach, according to him, did not uphold an agreement regarding his participation in a match in Norway. He said he agreed to play for 30 minutes, went to warm up at halftime, but never got to enter. He also apologized for not greeting the fans after the match. Ronaldo recounted that, after the 2026 World Cup, he prepared a farewell letter and that the president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) asked him to consider continuing. He said he supported the choice of the current coach, and that the coach proposed he play the first and last game, with rotations, and not travel to Norway and Denmark. Ronaldo stated that he refused to stay in Portugal and that the coach agreed. According to the player, the coach initially maintained the plan agreed upon in a conversation at his house, along with Simão Coutinho, the sports director of Al Nassr. Ronaldo said that he agreed to be substituted in a game in Alvalade without protesting and passed the captain's armband to Bruno Fernandes. Regarding the match in Norway, he said he expected to play again only at the Dragão but accepted the offer to come in for 30 minutes. Ronaldo said that, 48 hours later, he arranged with the coach for him to explain at a press conference that the plan had been his initiative and that he had made a mistake by having him warm up without using him. He added that, at the coach's request, a document was prepared with Simão Coutinho and Tiago Craveiro, validated by him and submitted to the coach. According to Ronaldo, the notes acknowledged that he accepted the plan and was loyal and professional but did not include an apology. The player stated that this was the second time the coach had failed to keep his word and that he decided to leave the camp because he felt trust was broken. He said that, on the morning of the conference, the president of the FPF and the coach assured him that his place on the team was still secure. Ronaldo took full responsibility for leaving the camp, apologized to his teammates and the Portuguese fans, and declared that the FPF should evaluate and punish the act, without mitigation, also considering his role as captain. Ronaldo added that there could be one or more farewell matches, but he associated the national team with competition. He said that after serving any suspension that might be imposed on him, he would be available to play and fight for victories if he was physically well and playing for the club. He also recalled that he stayed in a camp after learning of his father's death, until finishing the next game. #CristianoRonaldo #SeleçãoPortuguesa #Futebol (translated)





