Cristiano Ronaldo breaks silence on Portugal walkout, vows to remain available for national team

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence over his controversial departure from the Portugal national team camp, insisting that he remains committed to representing his country and is available for selection once he has served any punishment handed down to him.

The 41-year-old Al Nassr forward had raised doubts about his international future following his decision to leave the Portugal camp. However, in a lengthy statement shared with Reuters, Ronaldo made it clear that he has no intention of walking away from the national team at this stage.

“If I am physically well, playing for my club, with goals I hope, after serving the suspension that may be applied to me, I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team,” Ronaldo said.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner also apologised to his Portugal team-mates and the Portuguese people for leaving the squad, while accepting that disciplinary action could follow his decision.

Ronaldo's departure came after he was left as an unused substitute during Portugal's 2-1 Nations League victory away to Norway on September 27. According to Ronaldo, he had previously reached an agreement with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus regarding his involvement in the matches against Norway and Denmark.

Ronaldo claimed that the plan was for him to miss both games as part of an effort to manage his fitness. However, he said Jesus changed the arrangement on the day of the Norway match and told him he would play for 30 minutes.

“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from halftime onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn't called on,” Ronaldo said.

“The manager had broken his word to me.”

Ronaldo went on to say that it was not the first time he felt the coach had failed to honour an agreement between them.

“It was the second time he had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo said. “I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”

The Portugal captain also rejected the idea that he had attempted to interfere with the coach's tactical or technical decisions. Instead, he insisted that his issue was about trust and respect between himself and the manager.

“Never, at any moment, have I interfered in any technical or tactical decision of any coach or national team manager in almost 25 years of career,” Ronaldo said.

“I accept, for better or worse, what they propose that I do. I respect the decision, and when they break their word to me, I feel that my place is not there.”

Jesus subsequently denied that he had made an agreement with Ronaldo concerning the Norway and Denmark matches, although he left the door open for the veteran forward to return to the national team.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, indicated that he would eventually reveal more about the dispute, promising to “tell the truth” in due course.

Despite the controversy, Ronaldo stressed that his commitment to Portugal remains strong. He dismissed suggestions that his focus is now on arranging a farewell appearance, arguing that his priority remains competing and winning with the national team.

“I have heard a great deal of talk about farewell matches, that I must have a dignified farewell and that the Federation wants to give me that opportunity. I learned in life, often hungry and with nothing to eat, that no one gives anything to anyone.

“I can promise all my fans, naturally and especially all Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches; there will be time for that. But when I think of the national team, what I really think of is competing.

“That is what I thought on the day I was given the news of my father's death. I was at a camp with our national team and I decided to stay there until the end of the match the following day. I did for the country what I would never do for any club.”

Ronaldo's comments underline his determination to continue his international career despite the latest dispute. The Al Nassr star is Portugal's record goalscorer, having scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for his country.

For now, the forward says his position is clear: he wants to continue playing for Portugal, provided he is physically fit and available after any suspension.

His future with the national team may still depend on the outcome of the dispute with Jesus and any disciplinary measures imposed by the Portuguese Football Federation, but Ronaldo's latest statement has removed one major uncertainty.

Rather than announcing his retirement, the legendary forward has declared that he still wants to compete, score goals and win for Portugal.