Cristiano Ronaldo's farewell to Portugal is becoming a tragic mess - goodwill is draining away

Covered by The New York Times, Aol and 10 more since

  • Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Portugal
  • Jorge Jesus
  • Norway
  • Denmark
  • Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)
  • Jesus
  • Lionel Messi
An empty substitutes' bench by a floodlit football pitch at dusk, a red-and-green jacket folded on one seat, with empty stands behind.

What happened

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, walked out of Portugal's Nations League camp after coach Jorge Jesus left him on the bench against Norway. In a long Instagram statement on Oct. 6, Ronaldo said Jesus broke his word twice. He apologized, said he should be punished and said he is not retiring from the national team.

Summary

Cristiano Ronaldo isn't done with Portugal, even after walking out on the team. On Oct. 6, the 41-year-old captain posted a long statement on Instagram explaining why he left the national team's Nations League camp. He accuses coach Jorge Jesus of breaking his word to him twice. He also apologized to his teammates and to the Portuguese people, saying the decision to leave was "exclusively mine" and that he should not have done it. He said he expects the Portuguese Football Federation to punish him and that, once any suspension is served, he will be available to play again. [2] [3] [8] [11] [12]

Ronaldo's account starts with the Sept. 27 win over Norway. He says Jesus asked if he could play 30 minutes, so he warmed up from halftime but never got in. Afterward, he says, they agreed on eight points Jesus would make at a news conference. One said it was a mistake to have "someone of the stature of Pelé or Maradona" warm up and not play. Ronaldo says Jesus instead showed "an aggressiveness that I believe I did not deserve" when he spoke to reporters. He left camp after learning he would not start against Denmark. Without him, Portugal won all four games of the break. [2] [3] [7] [9] [10] [11]

Under federation rules, a player who leaves camp without justification can be banned for one to six months and fined. Ronaldo did tell the federation he was leaving, and it isn't clear whether the move will be seen as justified. Before the statement, Jesus and federation president Pedro Proença had played down the "misunderstanding" and said Ronaldo could return. Afterward, Jesus said he had read the statement and had "nothing more to say" about it. Ronaldo is back at Al Nassr, where coach Ange Postecoglou says his morale is "very high" right now. Portugal plays Denmark and Wales in November. [2] [3] [4] [7] [10]

Summary written by Vox Populi News from the 12 sources below. See all sources

Key questions

Could Ronaldo be suspended by Portugal?

Yes. Federation rules allow a ban of one to six months plus a fine for a player who leaves camp without justification. Ronaldo has said his punishment should not be reduced because he is captain. [2] [4] [10]

Is Cristiano Ronaldo retiring from international soccer?

No. Ronaldo says he will stay available after any suspension. He also promised fans "one or more farewell matches" in the future. [2] [3] [12]

How long was Ronaldo's statement?

Outlets differ. The New York Times and E! Online put it at 1,740 words, while Sporting News counted 1,996 words and other outlets described it as nearly 2,000. [1] [3] [6] [8]

Sources 12

  1. 1The New York Times

    Cristiano Ronaldo's farewell to Portugal is becoming a tragic mess - goodwill is draining away

    As ever with Cristiano Ronaldo, you'll believe what you want to believe. Did he release his remarkable statement giving his explanation as to why he left the Portugal camp last week because their…

    Read on The New York Times (opens in a new tab)
  2. 2Aol

    Cristiano Ronaldo says he is still available for Portugal after walking out on squad

    Cristiano Ronaldo is not following Lionel Messi into international retirement just yet.

    Tales Azzoni

    Read on Aol (opens in a new tab)
  3. 3New York Post

    Cristiano Ronaldo explains his side of spat with Portugal coach while keeping door open to return

    Cristiano Ronaldo is not done with Portugal's national team and said in a lengthy statement that he will remain available to the squad, while providing new details surrounding his unexpected…

    Christian Arnold

    Read on New York Post (opens in a new tab)
  4. 4Sports Illustrated

    The Portugal 'Suspension' Cristiano Ronaldo Could Face

    Ronaldo's near-2000-word statement suggested he expects punishment for leaving the Portugal camp.

    James Cormack

    Read on Sports Illustrated (opens in a new tab)
  5. 5CNN International

    The lesson Cristiano Ronaldo can still learn from Lionel Messi's heroic goodbye

    Saying goodbye is never easy. Within a sporting context, the hardest farewells often come when it's time for players to retire, but such decisions are often more complex than you'd imagine - fraught…

    Ben Church

    Read on CNN International (opens in a new tab)
  6. 6Sporting News

    Cristiano Ronaldo's tantrum in Lionel Messi's shadow would be sad ending for great who can't let go

    Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will forever be linked in the popular imagination.

    Dom Farrell

    Read on Sporting News (opens in a new tab)
  7. 7ESPN.com

    Postecoglou: Ronaldo 'morale high' at Al Nassr

    Al Nassr coach Ange Postecoglou has refused to comment on Cristiano Ronaldo's walk-out from the Portugal team but did reveal the veteran forward's "morale is very high." Ronaldo, 41, returned to his…

    Adriana Garcia

    Read on ESPN.com (opens in a new tab)
  8. 8E! Online

    Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Silence on Abrupt Exit From Portugal Training Camp

    Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo Debuts Blonde Hair Transformation Days After Wedding Cristiano Ronaldo is speaking out.

    Read on E! Online (opens in a new tab)
  9. 9Deseret News

    A hero's goodbye and an overstayed welcome

    As the two near the end of their careers, how will the elite soccer stars be remembered?

    Hayden Madson

    Read on Deseret News (opens in a new tab)
  10. 10Heavy

    Jorge Jesus Claps Back at Cristiano Ronaldo Amid Portugal Feud

    The conflict between Cristiano Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus added a new chapter after the forward published an extensive statement about his departure from Portugal's training camp; in that vein, the…

    Manuel Meza

    Read on Heavy (opens in a new tab)
  11. 11Complex

    Cristiano Ronaldo Apologizes for Leaving Portugal Training Camp, Addresses Fallout with Coach

    The soccer icon left Portugal's training camp last week, promising to "tell all the Portuguese people the truth." He did just that on Tuesday (Oct.

    Mark Elibert

    Read on Complex (opens in a new tab)
  12. 12ClutchPoints

    Cristiano Ronaldo Accepts Punishment For Shock Portugal Walkout

    Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that he's not retiring and also accepted his responsibility and punishment for walking out on Portugal.

    Shounak Chakrabarti

    Read on ClutchPoints (opens in a new tab)