Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football after dispute with coach

Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, ending a record-breaking 23-year career with Portugal. The 41-year-old confirmed the decision on Thursday, bringing weeks of speculation to a close after a public falling-out with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus.

The forward is one of the most famous footballers of all time and has the highest social media following of any athlete. His international career ends having become the first player to play and score in six consecutive World Cups.

How the dispute unfolded

Ronaldo left Portugal's training camp abruptly on September 30, ahead of the team's UEFA Nations League fixture against Denmark. He had been due to train with his teammates at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.

He confirmed on Instagram that he had left after a turbulent few hours in the Danish capital, following reports of a dispute with Jesus. The exit came shortly after the coach's news conference, where Jesus said the five-time Ballon d'Or winner would not start against Denmark, marking a second consecutive Nations League game out of the starting lineup.

Ronaldo had already spent the whole of Portugal's 2-1 Nations League win away to Norway on September 27 on the bench, having captained the side in a 1-0 home victory over Wales three days earlier. The match in Oslo was the first time since November 2024 that he had not featured for Portugal without being injured or suspended.

Jesus said at the time that Ronaldo could return if he chose to, adding that the player should decide how he wanted to end his time with the national team.

Ronaldo's account

Six days later, Ronaldo accused Jesus of twice breaking his word. He said the coach had agreed a plan for him to miss the Norway and Denmark matches to manage his fitness, but then told him on the day of the Norway game that he would play for 30 minutes.

"Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from half-time onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn't called on," Ronaldo said.

He said a later agreement with Jesus did not require the coach to apologise, but that Jesus's public remarks bore no resemblance to their private discussion. "It was the second time he had broken his word to me," Ronaldo said, explaining that he decided to leave the camp without waiting for further broken promises.

Ronaldo did not give a reason for retiring, but said the decision was not an easy one. "It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not made only with the head. They are also made with the heart," he said.

World Cup record

Ronaldo scored three goals for Portugal at the 2026 World Cup, becoming the first player to play and score at six consecutive editions of the tournament. Following Portugal's round-of-16 exit, he hinted it had been his last World Cup.

"I gave it my all. I did my best, and I'm leaving with a clear conscience," he said.

Source: Al Jazeera.