Jorge Jesus has said he does not blame himself for Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement from international football and that he had hoped the Portugal captain would continue playing for the national team.
Ronaldo announced on Thursday that he was ending his Portugal career after 234 appearances and a record 146 goals. The decision came less than a month after he left the squad following a disagreement with Jesus over his role in the team.
The Portugal manager said he had expected Ronaldo to return and planned to include him in his latest squad for Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales.
“I thought he would return,” Jesus said on Friday. “I certainly intended to call him up.
“He felt that this was the right moment to leave, and that must be respected. We can never overlook what he has meant to Portugal, what he has contributed to the country, or the fact that he serves as a symbol for younger players.”
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Ronaldo, 41, was fined €255 and given a 30-day suspension by the Portuguese Football Federation after walking out of the national team camp before a match against Denmark on 1 October.
𝗖𝗥𝟳. ©🐐 https://t.co/Mu0BL36rey
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) November 6, 2026
He had played his last game for Portugal on 24 September, when they beat Wales 1-0 in Lisbon. He was then left on the bench for the first time in 18 years in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway on 4 October.
Jesus, who coached Ronaldo at Al-Nassr before taking charge of Portugal in July, said the two had discussed the forward’s future before the dispute.
“No, maybe I rushed things, but not because of me,” Jesus said. “It was in his head, more call-ups, fewer call-ups.
“We also talked about it a few times. And if it was going to happen. But no, I don’t feel guilty about anything regarding his departure. I respect his decision.”
Uma história que fica para sempre. 𝙊𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙙𝙤 𝙥𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙤, 𝘾𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙖̃𝙤 🐐⭐️ https://t.co/OSKr7L7xMW
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) November 5, 2026
Jesus said he had asked Ronaldo to remain with the national team when they spoke in September.
“I asked him to stay on with me because I needed him by my side,” he said.
The manager also praised Ronaldo’s contribution to Portuguese football. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward captained the country to victory at Euro 2016 and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
“I had the chance to spend a year working with him at Al-Nassr,” Jesus said. “Cris is a global icon, a Portuguese icon, and an icon of the national team.”
