Portugal manager Jorge Jesus
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus is disappointed Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international duty but concedes he has to accept the captain’s decision.
Ronaldo, who fell out with Jorge Jesus in the last international window over a lack of playing time, announced on Thursday his retirement from the national team after 23 years of service.
Jorge Jesus, who also coached Ronaldo at Al Nassr, told Canal 11: “It’s entirely his decision.”
Ronaldo’s announcement came one day before Jorge Jesus was to name the squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League games against Denmark and in Wales.
Jorge Jesus took over the national team following Portugal’s round of 16 exit at the 2026 World Cup and said he spoke with Ronaldo in September about the 41-year-old’s future in the national team.
“We had the chance to talk about this before the first squad announcement [in September before the fallout],” he said.
Ronaldo’s decision comes just after the Portugal captain served a 30-day suspension for walking out on the national team in the previous international window after a fallout with Jorge Jesus.
“I asked him to stay on with me because I needed him by my side. But I have to accept his decision.”
The Al Nassr forward played his last game for Portugal on Sept. 24, a 1-0 win over Wales in a Nations League game in Lisbon. He was an unused sub for the first time in 18 years for Portugal in a 2-1 win in Norway on Oct. 4.
Although Ronaldo apologised to his teammates for walking out and expressed his desire to continue playing for the national team, he did not do so to Jorge Jesus.
Jorge Jesus, who guided Ronaldo win his first Saudi Pro League title last season at Al Nassr, paid tribute to the player’s legacy.
“I had the chance to spend a year working with him at Al Nassr,” he said. “Cris is a global icon, a Portuguese icon, and an icon of the national team.”
Ronaldo captained Portugal to Euro 2016 glory, and to the inaugural UEFA Nations League trophy three years later and again in 2025. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star has 146 goals in 234 games for Portugal, making him the leading men’s international goal scorer and appearance maker.
“He is a player who has given so much to the national team over the years,” Jorge Jesus said. “He will always be an icon of our national team, of our people, and of our history. He will always have a place in the hearts of the Portuguese people and in the national team. “There’s no getting round it, because he will always be a legend of Portuguese football.”
