Jorge Jesus, the coach of Portugal, expressed surprise at Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to retire from international play, especially following their recent public disagreements. “I expected him to return,” Jesus mentioned during the announcement of his Nations League squad, just a day after Ronaldo declared his departure from the national team. He acknowledged that Ronaldo felt it was the right time to step back and emphasized the significance of Ronaldo’s contributions to Portugal, highlighting his role as an inspiration for younger players.
Ronaldo’s last match for Portugal was a 1-0 victory against Wales on September 24. Following the match, Jesus chose to bench Ronaldo for the next game and had no plans to include him in the subsequent one, which led Ronaldo to leave the team’s training session. Although Ronaldo later offered an apology, he was subsequently fined and suspended by the Portuguese football federation for 30 days. In a heartfelt video shared on social media, Ronaldo stated, “the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team.” At 41 years old, he will continue playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, pursuing his 1,000th career goal, with 985 already scored; notably, 146 of those were achieved while playing for Portugal.
The Portuguese football federation announced plans to hold a tribute for Ronaldo, recognizing his six World Cup participations and his pivotal role in helping Portugal clinch the 2016 European Championship. Portugal is scheduled to face Denmark on November 14 in Braga and then travel to Cardiff to play against Wales. Having already secured a place in the Nations League quarterfinals, Jesus recently took over as Portugal’s coach following a disappointing World Cup performance where Ronaldo was a central figure.
During a press conference where many questions revolved around Ronaldo, Jesus maintained that he wanted to shift the focus to the team, stating he held no personal grudges regarding the public fallout with such an esteemed figure in Portuguese football. “I don’t harbor any hard feelings. Every decision I made was for the benefit of the team,” he asserted.
Fan Take: This news marks a significant moment in soccer history, as it signals the end of an era defined by one of the sport’s greatest players. Ronaldo’s retirement could reshape Portugal’s national team dynamics and inspire a new generation of talent, making it a pivotal juncture for the sport.
Source: www.foxsports.com
