Portugal manager Jorge Jesus stated that he feels no guilt regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to end his international career, following a dispute that began when the veteran forward was left on the bench. Ronaldo, who holds the all-time international scoring record with 146 goals, officially announced his retirement from national team duty this week.
Dispute Led to Sudden Departure
The rift between the manager and the 41-year-old forward escalated after Portugal’s 1-0 Nations League victory against Wales in September. In their next fixture against Norway, Jesus kept Ronaldo as an unused substitute. The decision prompted Ronaldo to walk straight down the tunnel during the match and subsequently abandon Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen on the eve of their game against Denmark.
Accusing Jesus of breaking a promise, Ronaldo was later handed a €255 (£215; $286) fine and a 30-day suspension by the Portuguese Football Federation. Although conciliatory discussions were anticipated to allow the forward to return for this month’s final Nations League group fixtures against Denmark and Wales, Ronaldo chose instead to walk away from international football.
Manager Defends Team-First Selection
Speaking about the situation as reported by 101 Great Goals, Jesus—who previously coached Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr—insisted he has no regrets over his managerial choices and stressed that the decision to retire came entirely from the player. Jesus explained that he intended to select Ronaldo for the upcoming matches and only discovered the retirement news alongside the general public.
Jesus acknowledged he may have rushed matters but clarified that the retirement was not his doing, noting that the player had been weighing call-ups in his mind. He praised Ronaldo’s impact on the sport and noted that the two had developed a strong bond over the past year and a half. Jesus emphasized that his team selections were guided solely by what was best for the collective squad. “All my decisions were made with the team in mind. As a manager, I have always defended what was best for the team. I am at peace with my decision,” Jesus said.
