Portugal manager Jorge Jesus revealed he had no prior notice regarding Cristiano Ronaldo's international retirement, stating he learned about the legendary forward's departure at the same time as the general public. The 41-year-old announced his decision in an Instagram video on Thursday, arriving just 24 hours before Jesus was scheduled to name his squad for this month's Nations League fixtures.
Addressing the media at Friday's news conference, Jesus—who managed Ronaldo at Al-Nassr last season—clarified that the in-form forward was slated for selection before making the sudden announcement. "I found out when we all did," Jesus explained. "Until then, I knew nothing about it. He was playing, he was scoring goals; he was one of the players on my squad list." Ronaldo was available for selection again after serving a 30-day suspension from international duty, a disciplinary timeframe that did not feature any national team matches.
That suspension originated from an episode in September when the five-time Ballon d'Or winner walked out of the Portugal camp upon learning he would not start a Nations League encounter against Denmark four days later. Although Ronaldo later claimed Jesus had "broken his word," he conceded his departure merited punishment while insisting at the time that he was not walking away from international duty. Visibly annoyed when pressed on the matter on Friday, Jesus stood by his past management: "All my decisions were made with the team in mind. As a manager, I have always defended what was best for the team. I am at peace with my decision."
After remaining an unused substitute against Norway on 27 September, Ronaldo's final appearance for Portugal concluded with a 1-0 win over Wales in Lisbon three days prior. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star ends his international journey with men's world records of 146 goals in 234 matches since his 2003 debut, having also guided his nation to the Euro 2016 trophy. While Jesus confirmed he has not spoken to Ronaldo since the announcement, Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca hailed the icon, stating: "No tribute will ever be enough to thank him for everything he has done for Portuguese football, for Portugal. The best way to honour and celebrate him is to honour his boundless ambition, to always play to win, to never be afraid of being the best in the world. Thank you for everything, captain. This is and always will be your home."
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