Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended by Portugal after walking out of the national team’s camp. The 41-year-old captain says coach Jorge Jesus “broke his word” about playing him, but accepts that leaving was wrong: “The responsibility is exclusively mine.”
Cristiano Ronaldo was provisionally suspended by Portugal on Saturday, October 10, Al Jazeera reported, citing Reuters.
The Portuguese Football Federation has opened disciplinary proceedings against its captain.
What Happened
According to a letter from Ronaldo that became public this week:
- Coach Jorge Jesus told him he would be used as a substitute in a Nations League match against Norway.
- Ronaldo warmed up on the touchline but was not brought on.
- Before the next match, against Denmark, he notified the federation and left the camp.
The Federation’s Statement
“Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, following a decision by the Non-Professional Section on October 9, 2026,” the federation said.
Ronaldo’s Explanation
Ronaldo, 41, accepted that walking out was the wrong way to deal with the situation, while maintaining that Jesus “broke his word” more than once.
“I owe my national team teammates an apology for leaving the training camp,” he said.
“Despite the absolute breach of trust in the coach’s word, as anyone who witnessed our conversations can testify, I should not have done it. The responsibility is exclusively mine.”
He had said he deserved to be disciplined, and that he is open to whatever punishment follows.
Back With His Club
Ronaldo has already returned to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. He scored in a 3-0 win over Diriyah on Friday.
The Bigger Picture
Ronaldo is Portugal’s all-time leading scorer and played in his sixth World Cup this year.
The length of any ban has not been announced. According to reports cited by Reuters, federation rules provide for a suspension of between one month and six months for a player who “abandons” national team activity.
Image: Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Portugal against Armenia in September 2025 (file photo). Photo: YantsImages / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
