Cristiano Ronaldo apologised for his departure from the Portuguese national team camp, signalling a potential return to the squad. He stated, "I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team." Furthermore, Ronaldo issued an apology to the Portuguese people, noting that "a broken word has, for me, a defining impact." The incident began after Ronaldo walked out following his exclusion from the starting lineup against Denmark and his role as an unused substitute against Norway. Previously, Ronaldo had rejected a proposal from coach Jesus that involved playing the opening and final Nations League matches at home without travelling to Norway and Denmark. Regarding the dispute, Ronaldo stated, "The head coach failed to keep his word to me." He also acknowledged that his actions warranted assessment and potential punishment from the Portuguese Football Federation.
Jorge Jesus confirmed that Ronaldo could rejoin the national team if he wished, adding, "If he wants to, he’ll return to the national team. We can talk before the next call-up, but Cris is the one who’s going to decide." Separately, Pedro Proenca, President of the Portugal Football Federation, described the episode as a misunderstanding, asserting that Ronaldo remains part of the team's plans. Proenca added that "He is in the national team on sporting merit, and that must be unquestionable." Portugal secured qualification for the quarter-finals after winning all four of their Nations League matches with two games to spare. The team, which won 4-2 in Denmark without Ronaldo and beat Norway on Sunday, is scheduled to host Denmark on 14 November 2026 and visit Wales three days later. Ronaldo's career statistics show 146 goals across 234 international appearances.
Ronaldo stated, "I apologise to the Portuguese people once again, but a broken word has, for me, a defining impact".
Ronaldo
