Jorge Jesus Says Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal Retirement Came as a Surprise
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus says he learned of Cristiano Ronaldo’s international retirement at the same time as the public, despite planning to include the veteran forward in his latest squad. Speaking at a press conference after announcing his first selection since Ronaldo stepped away from international football, Jesus said he had expected the captain to continue with the national team and intended to speak with him after calling him up.
Ronaldo announced his decision on Thursday, just one day before Portugal’s squad for the November UEFA Nations League fixtures was revealed. The timing surprised supporters and left Jesus facing immediate questions about his relationship with the country’s most celebrated footballer, the circumstances surrounding the announcement and what the change means for Portugal’s next chapter.
Portugal Turns Toward Renewal After Ronaldo’s Departure
Jesus began by focusing on the squad itself, which includes seven new players. He described the selection as part of a wider effort to refresh the team and prepare for the future, echoing language Ronaldo had used when discussing the direction of Portuguese football.
“There are seven new players,” Jesus said, noting that five had previously been involved with Portugal’s under-21 side. He added that the newcomers would need to show through their performances at club level that they deserved a place in the senior team. Borrowing Ronaldo’s words, the coach said Portugal was looking toward “renewal, the future and the Portuguese national team.”
The new faces arrive at a significant moment. Ronaldo has been central to Portugal’s identity for nearly two decades, and his departure leaves a high-profile leadership role to be filled. The transition will not be defined only by who scores goals; it will also test how the team distributes responsibility, maintains confidence and builds a fresh identity around its next generation of players.
Jesus Expected Ronaldo to Continue
Jesus said he had not anticipated an immediate retirement. He believed Ronaldo would remain part of the Nations League project and planned to include him in the squad before opening a conversation about their working relationship.
“Of course, I thought he would come back,” Jesus said. “I was thinking of calling him up and talking to him.” He stressed that he respected Ronaldo’s choice, adding that the forward had decided the time was right to leave the national team. In Jesus’s view, retirement was likely to come eventually, even if the timing was unexpected.
The coach also rejected the idea that personal resentment had influenced his selection plans. He said his decisions had been made in the interests of the team, not as a response to past disagreements. “I held no grudge against him,” he said, explaining that he had expected Ronaldo to continue and would have selected him on that basis.
“I Found Out at the Same Time as You”
Asked whether Ronaldo had privately warned him before making the announcement, Jesus said he had received no advance notice. He learned of the decision on Thursday after Ronaldo shared a video and statement publicly.
“I found out about it at the same time as all of you,” the coach said. Until then, he explained, Ronaldo had been playing and scoring, and was viewed as one of the players available for selection. Jesus said he did not contact the forward before the announcement because he had been planning to call him into the squad and expected that a conversation could take place afterward.
That account leaves the reasons for the retirement unresolved. Jesus said he could not explain what had changed Ronaldo’s mind, particularly after the player had dismissed the prospect of leaving the national team only weeks earlier. “You should ask him,” Jesus said, adding that Ronaldo alone could give the clearest explanation.
A Difficult Backdrop to the Retirement
Ronaldo’s announcement followed a period of tension involving the national team. The dispute had its roots in an incident last October, when Ronaldo left Portugal’s camp in Copenhagen without permission after taking issue with earlier remarks from Jesus. The Portuguese Football Federation subsequently suspended him.
Although the relationship appeared to be moving toward a resolution, the retirement announcement came before the coach had the chance to discuss a return. Jesus acknowledged that the episode would remain part of his own tenure. His time in charge, he said, would be linked to the moment Ronaldo’s international career ended, even though he did not believe he had caused the decision.
“Perhaps things were rushed, but that is not because of me,” Jesus said. He added that he felt no guilt, describing Ronaldo’s choice as the player’s own and insisting that the forward’s contribution to Portugal could not be overlooked. Jesus also referred to the strong friendship they had built while working together at Al Nassr, where they shared a successful period at club level.
Ronaldo’s Legacy Remains Central to Portugal
Jesus was careful to distinguish his respect for Ronaldo’s legacy from the practical challenge of moving forward. The coach called him a symbol for Portugal and for young players beginning their careers, while making clear that the national team’s responsibilities would not change with his absence.
“Portugal’s responsibility is to win,” Jesus said. He argued that the team would carry the same expectations whether Ronaldo was present or not. That message reflects the balance Portugal must strike: honouring an iconic player while ensuring the squad does not become dependent on the past.
Ronaldo’s retirement also changes the conversation around Portugal’s football prediction for the months ahead. Supporters will be watching to see which players step into leadership roles, how the attack adapts and whether the younger additions can translate promise into consistent international performances. Squad selection, tactical flexibility and the ability to handle pressure will all shape expectations in the Nations League.
Jesus Declines to Revisit the Dispute
As questions about Ronaldo continued, Jesus became increasingly firm that he would not repeat his answers. He said the press conference should focus on the 28 players selected and on respecting Ronaldo’s decision, rather than returning repeatedly to the same disagreement.
He also declined to comment on Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença, who reportedly knew about Ronaldo’s retirement before it became public. Jesus said that, as national-team coach, he would not assess what the federation president should or should not do.
For now, Portugal’s focus shifts to its upcoming Nations League matches against Denmark and Wales. The fixtures will offer an early indication of how the team performs without its longtime captain, though two games alone will not determine the success of the transition. Jesus’s immediate task is to turn a moment of uncertainty into a clear sporting plan—one that respects Ronaldo’s extraordinary history while giving Portugal’s next generation room to define its own.
