Jorge Jesus breaks silence on Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal retirement

Jesus said he bears no responsibility for Ronaldo's retirement decision and received no advance notice of the announcement.

Jorge Jesus has broken his silence on Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement from international football, insisting he bears no guilt over the 41-year-old's decision to end his 23-year Portugal career. Ronaldo announced his departure on Thursday with a record 234 caps and 146 goals for his country.

The retirement came less than a month after Ronaldo received a 30-day ban and €255 fine from the Portuguese Football Federation following a disagreement with Jesus. The forward had walked out on the squad before a Nations League clash with Denmark on 1 October after being kept on the bench during a match against Norway on 27 September, where he warmed up but remained unused.

Jesus, who managed Ronaldo at Saudi club Al Nassr before taking the Portugal job in July, said he found out about the retirement when the public did and had received no advance warning. "All my decisions were made with the team in mind," Jesus said. "As a manager, I have always defended what was best for the team. I am at peace with my decision." PFF president Pedro Proenca paid tribute to Ronaldo, saying no tribute would ever be enough to thank him for his service to Portuguese football.