Portugal Pledges Tribute to Ronaldo After Jesus Names New Squad

Portugal's football federation says it will find a way to celebrate Cristiano Ronaldo's international career even as coach Jorge Jesus named a squad that does not include him, two days after the 41-year-old announced his retirement from the national team, according to Al Jazeera.

How many caps and goals did Ronaldo play for Portugal?

Ronaldo's national-team career spanned 234 appearances and 146 goals, a run that ended with his retirement announcement on social media Thursday, Al Jazeera reported. The numbers place him among the sport's most prolific international scorers, and the federation's president, Pedro Proenca, invoked that record directly when addressing reporters ahead of Friday's squad announcement. "No tribute will ever be enough to thank him for everything he has done for Portuguese football, for Portugal," Proenca said, per Al Jazeera.

What led to Ronaldo's exit from the squad?

The retirement followed a dispute that began at the end of September, when Ronaldo left Portugal's training camp without permission ahead of a Nations League match against Denmark and did not return, according to the report. Ronaldo later said broken promises from Jesus prompted his departure, though neither the federation nor the coach has detailed what those promises were alleged to be. Jesus told reporters he learned of the retirement only when it was posted publicly.

"I found out when we all did. Until then, I knew nothing about it. He was playing, he was scoring goals; he was one of the players on my squad list," Jesus said, according to Al Jazeera.

Jesus said he had not spoken to Ronaldo since the announcement and grew visibly annoyed as journalists kept returning to the subject rather than his team selections. "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," he said.

Who replaces Ronaldo in the November squad?

Jesus called in seven new faces for this month's Nations League fixtures against Wales and Denmark, including five players from Portugal's under-21 setup, Al Jazeera reported. The report does not name the individual players, and the federation has not released additional roster detail beyond the count of newcomers. The emphasis on youth signals a squad in transition rather than an immediate like-for-like replacement for Ronaldo's production.

What is the Portuguese FA promising to do?

Proenca framed the federation's obligation in terms of legacy rather than logistics, stopping short of confirming any specific ceremony, friendly, or farewell appearance involving Ronaldo. "We will do everything we can to honour the legacy he leaves us. Everything he has done deserves to be honoured and celebrated," Proenca said. He added a closing message aimed directly at the player: "Thank you for everything, captain. This is and always will be your home."

Whether Ronaldo would accept any invitation to appear at such an event remains unclear, Al Jazeera reported, and the federation gave no timeline for when or how a tribute might take place.

What did Jesus say about the broader relationship?

Jesus repeatedly declined to expand on the specifics of the rift during Friday's press conference, redirecting questions toward his squad choices. He maintained there were no hard feelings toward Ronaldo and said the forward was fully part of his plans right up until the retirement announcement, having continued to play and score for his club in the weeks before.

What to watch next

• Whether the Portuguese FA announces a concrete date or format for any Ronaldo tribute, beyond Proenca's general pledge.
• How Portugal performs without Ronaldo in November's Nations League matches against Wales and Denmark, the first competitive fixtures since his exit.
• Whether any of the five under-21 call-ups earn significant minutes as Jesus reshapes the squad.
• Whether Ronaldo or his camp issues any further public statement on the "broken promises" he cited as the reason for leaving camp in September.
• Whether Jesus and Ronaldo have any direct contact, given the coach's confirmation that none has occurred since Thursday's announcement.

The federation's statements leave open more than they resolve: a promise to honor a 234-cap, 146-goal career, paired with no confirmed plan for how — or whether — Ronaldo himself will take part.

mindfulAI Keyboard — An iPhone keyboard that rewrites a draft in a tone you pick. Four free AI actions a day.