Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he was ready to end his Portugal career after the 2026 World Cup and even wrote a farewell message, only to change his decision after being convinced to continue.
Ronaldo reveals he already wrote his Portugal retirement letter
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he was so close to retiring from international football after the 2026 World Cup that he had already written his farewell message to Portugal supporters.
The surprising detail appeared in Ronaldo’s latest statement about the controversy surrounding his exit from the Portugal camp and his damaged relationship with head coach Jorge Jesus.
While Ronaldo has made clear that he is not retiring now, he confirmed that he had previously prepared to bring his legendary international career to an end.
The message was written, but it was never published.
Ronaldo was ready to leave Portugal
According to Ronaldo, he had seriously considered ending his Portugal career after the 2026 World Cup.
He had already prepared the words he wanted to share with the Portuguese people when the time came to leave the national team permanently.
Ronaldo revealed that he still has the retirement message today.
That confirms just how close the Portugal captain came to walking away from international football.
FPF president changed Ronaldo’s mind
Ronaldo said the situation changed during the journey home after the World Cup.
Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença spoke with him and asked him to reconsider his decision.
After that conversation, Ronaldo decided to continue playing for Portugal.
The retirement letter was therefore never released.
Instead, Ronaldo began another chapter with the national team.
Ronaldo even supported Jorge Jesus
Another surprising part of Ronaldo’s story concerns Jorge Jesus.
After convincing him to remain with Portugal, Proença reportedly asked Ronaldo for his opinion about the national team’s next coach.
Ronaldo said he supported the appointment of Jesus.
He believed Jesus was the right choice and was initially pleased when the experienced coach was given the job.
That makes their current dispute even more dramatic.
Relationship later breaks down
Only months later, the relationship between Ronaldo and Jesus became one of the biggest stories in Portuguese football.
Ronaldo has accused the coach of breaking his word twice.
The first dispute came around the Norway match.
Ronaldo said Jesus asked him whether he could play around 30 minutes.
He agreed and began warming up, but was never sent onto the pitch.
Ronaldo said that was the first time the coach had broken his word to him.
Second disagreement damages trust
The two reportedly held talks after the Norway game.
According to Ronaldo, an agreement was reached about how the situation would later be explained publicly.
But Ronaldo claimed Jesus then said something different when speaking to the media.
He described that as the second broken promise and said trust between them had been damaged.
Ronaldo later left the Portugal camp.
Ronaldo admits his own mistakes
Despite criticising Jesus, Ronaldo has also accepted responsibility for his own behaviour.
He admitted that he should have gone over to thank supporters after the Norway match.
Ronaldo also accepted that leaving the national-team camp early was wrong.
He apologised to both supporters and teammates and said the Portuguese Football Federation has the right to punish him.
Ronaldo also admitted that being captain made his responsibility even greater.
But Ronaldo is NOT retiring now
The retirement letter has created fresh questions about Ronaldo’s future.
However, there is one important clarification.
Ronaldo has not announced his international retirement.
In fact, his latest statement says the opposite.
Ronaldo confirmed that after serving any possible punishment, he will remain available for Portugal if he is healthy, playing regularly and performing well for his club.
Ronaldo still wants to win with Portugal
Ronaldo made clear that he does not want to return simply for ceremonial appearances.
For now, he still views himself as a player who can compete for the national team.
His goal remains to play, compete and win for Portugal.
That is particularly important because some earlier reports suggested Ronaldo might refuse to return while Jesus remained head coach.
His own statement did not confirm that condition.
A farewell match will come one day
Ronaldo also suggested that supporters will eventually receive a proper goodbye.
He spoke about the possibility of one or more farewell matches when the right moment arrives.
But that moment has not arrived yet.
Despite already writing his retirement message once, Ronaldo still believes his Portugal story may have another chapter.
The letter that was never sent
The revelation shows how different Ronaldo’s international future could have been after the World Cup.
He had already written the words that would bring one of football’s greatest national-team careers to an end.
Then one conversation changed everything.
Pedro Proença convinced Ronaldo to stay, Ronaldo supported the arrival of Jorge Jesus, and only months later the three men found themselves at the centre of a major Portugal crisis.
The retirement letter remains unpublished.
And for now, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal career remains unfinished.
