0
Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo sits on the bench during the UEFA Nations League Matchday 2 clash between Portugal and Norway, held at Ullevaal Stadion in Norway on the 28th of last month. / Reuters Yonhap

Cristiano Ronaldo (41, Al Nassr) has issued an apology to his teammates and the Portuguese public over his departure from the national team camp, stating that he will accept punishment in accordance with regulations. However, he drew a firm line against retiring from international duty, asserting that the root cause of the friction lay with the national team manager who failed to keep his promises.

In a 10-page statement posted on his social media on the 7th (Korean time), Ronaldo emphasized, "I apologize to my teammates for leaving the national team camp. The responsibility for leaving the squad rests entirely on me," adding, "My actions must be evaluated and sanctioned by the Portuguese Football Federation. As team captain, I should face heavier punishment."

Earlier, Ronaldo started and played 67 minutes in this season's opening UEFA Nations League match against Wales on the 25th of last month. Three days later, in the Matchday 2 clash against Norway, he remained on the bench the entire match before heading straight to the locker room rather than joining his teammates to salute traveling Portuguese supporters. When manager Jorge Jesus subsequently indicated that Ronaldo would not start in Matchday 3 against Denmark, Ronaldo left the squad on the 1st after writing, "When the time comes, I will tell the whole truth to all Portuguese people about why I ended up leaving the national team. I wish the Portuguese national team and my teammates the best of luck."

Ronaldo wrote, "After the 2026 North America World Cup concluded, I drafted a letter addressed to the people of Portugal. I poured into that letter the words I wanted to convey when stepping away from the national team forever," adding, "However, the federation president asked me to reconsider my retirement decision and also sought my input on the new manager. In the end, the current manager was chosen, and it felt like the right choice."

Recounting the specific background leading to his departure, he asserted, "On the day of the Norway match, which I was initially not slated to play in, manager Jesus asked if I could play for 30 minutes. I warmed up starting from halftime, but was never brought on as a substitute," claiming, "The manager not only broke that first promise, but also broke a second one by attacking me at a press conference, contradicting what we had discussed and agreed upon following the Norway match."

Addressing his potential international retirement, Ronaldo declared, "Once I have served all disciplinary actions imposed on me, I will be ready to compete and win for the national team, just as I have always done." The remarks are also interpreted as signaling an openness to rejoin the squad depending on circumstances, such as a formal apology from manager Jesus or a change in management.

                                                                                                              Cho Seong-jun