Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has revealed that he had no prior knowledge of Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to retire from international football, saying the announcement came as a surprise to him.
Jesus made the disclosure on Friday, November 6, during a press conference where he unveiled Portugal’s squad for this month’s UEFA Nations League fixtures.
According to the coach, Ronaldo had not informed him of his intention to end his international career. He also disclosed that the 41-year-old forward was still part of his plans and would have been considered for selection.
“I found out when we all did. Until then, I knew nothing about it,” Jesus said.
“He was playing, he was scoring goals; he was one of the players on my squad list.”
Ronaldo announced his retirement on Thursday in a video shared on his social media accounts, bringing an end to a 23-year international career with Portugal.
His decision came weeks after a disagreement with Jesus, following an incident in September when Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp after learning he would not start a Nations League match against Denmark.
The forward later accused the coach of breaking his word but subsequently apologised and accepted that he deserved punishment for leaving the camp prematurely. The Portuguese Football Federation imposed a 30-day suspension and a fine.
Despite the disagreement, Jesus maintained that his decisions had always been guided by what he considered best for the team. Responding to questions about the dispute, he said he was at peace with his choices and had no personal regrets.
“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,” he stated.
Ronaldo’s retirement brings his record-breaking international career to a close with 234 appearances and 146 goals, making him the most-capped player and highest goalscorer in men’s international football.
He made his senior debut for Portugal in 2003 and captained the country to its first European Championship title in 2016. He also helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
Meanwhile, Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença has pledged to honour Ronaldo’s contribution to the national team, describing his influence on Portuguese football as invaluable.
Jesus confirmed that he had not contacted Ronaldo since the retirement announcement. The forward is, however, expected to continue his club career with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
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