Ronaldo seeks punishment for Portugal walkout but rules out retirement

Cristiano Ronaldo says he wants to continue playing for Portugal but has asked the country's football federation to punish him for leaving the national team's training camp. BBC Sport reported that the captain accepted responsibility in a lengthy statement while also setting out his account of a dispute with manager Jorge Jesus over his involvement in Nations League matches.

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The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward departed after remaining on the bench against Norway and learning he would not start against Denmark. Ronaldo said he had apologised and believed the federation should assess his conduct without reducing any punishment. His statement acknowledged that leaving had breached the coach's trust, although it also challenged how Jesus had handled their private discussions and subsequent public explanation.

According to Ronaldo's account, he and Jesus initially agreed that he would sit out both matches as part of a plan to manage his fitness. Ronaldo said that arrangement changed on the day of the Norway game, when the manager told him he would receive 30 minutes of playing time. He described warming up from half-time but ultimately not being brought on, which he regarded as a broken commitment.

Ronaldo said a later meeting led to an agreement that Jesus would explain the situation at his next news conference. He described an eight-point document stating that he had not demanded minutes, had accepted the coach's selection decisions and that asking him to prepare without using him had been a mistake. The notes did not call for an apology, Ronaldo said, but he maintained that the manager's public comments failed to reflect their discussion.

Jesus said on Sunday that Ronaldo could still return to the national side, according to the BBC. Ronaldo also made clear that he was not announcing his international retirement. He said he wanted to remain available provided he was fit, playing club football and, ideally, scoring. Although he referred to returning after a suspension, the BBC report did not specify an imposed sanction or its duration.

Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, with both totals standing as world records, the BBC reported. He helped the country win the 2016 European Championship and two Nations League titles. His latest statement leaves his intention to continue clear, while placing the question of consequences for his departure with the Portuguese Football Federation.