Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), who left the Portuguese national football team on his own accord, has revealed the full story behind his actions, emphasizing, "My actions deserve punishment, but this does not mean I am retiring from the national team."

On the 7th, Ronaldo posted a long, 10-page statement via his social media account.

Previously, Ronaldo started in the UEFA Nations League (UNL) opening match of the season against Wales on September 25 and played for 67 minutes, but remained on the bench three days later for the second match against Norway.

At the time, after the match, Ronaldo headed straight to the locker room, separating himself from his teammates who approached to greet Portuguese fans who had traveled away from home to support them.

Amidst this situation, when national team coach Jorge Jesus announced that he would not select Ronaldo as a starter for the third match against Denmark, Ronaldo packed his bags and left the national team on the 1st.

Upon leaving the national team, Ronaldo left a message saying, "When the time comes, I will tell all the Portuguese people the truth about why I had to leave the national team. I wish the Portuguese national team and my teammates good luck."

Finally breaking his silence, Ronaldo detailed the reasons for his departure from the national team through social media.

First, he stated, "After the 2026 North and Central America World Cup ended, I wrote a letter to the people of Portugal. The letter contained what I wanted to convey when I eventually leave the national team forever." He added, "However, the president of the football federation asked me to reconsider my decision to retire and also asked for my opinion on the new head coach. In the end, the current coach was chosen, and it was the right choice."

Addressing rumors of a discord with coach Jesus, Ronaldo pointed to the fact that he was told he would play against Norway but was left unused, and that the coach failed to properly convey and went back on the agreement to make announcements during a press conference, as the reasons for his departure from the national team.

Ronaldo emphasized, "Coach Jesus broke his first promise by not playing me against Norway, and broke his second promise through the aggressive words he directed at me in the post-match press conference."

Ronaldo explained, "Coach Jesus asked me on the day of the Norway match, when it was initially decided I would sit out, if I could play for 30 minutes. I warmed up starting from halftime, but ultimately I was not substituted in," adding, "The coach did not keep his promise. After the match, I did not go to greet the fans. Failing to greet them was my responsibility, and I should not have done that."

He further added, "Two days after the match, I spoke with coach Jesus, and we agreed that the coach would truthfully explain the situation regarding why I did not play against Norway through a press conference, but instead he broke the agreement and attacked me."

Indirectly arguing that coach Jesus was the root cause of the entire situation, Ronaldo bowed his head to his national team teammates and the people of Portugal.

Ronaldo emphasized, "I apologize to my teammates for leaving the national team camp. The responsibility for leaving the national team rests entirely on me," adding, "My behavior should be evaluated and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation. As the team captain, I should receive heavier punishment."

Drawing a line regarding retirement from the national team, he stated, "Once I have served all the disciplinary actions imposed on me, I will be ready to compete and win for the national team, just as I have always done."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)