Jorge Jesus Surprised by Ronaldo's Sudden Retirement Announcement

Jorge Jesus, who coached Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr last season, was caught off guard by the striker's retirement announcement from international football. The Portugal coach shared that he found out about Ronaldo's decision at the same time as everyone else, just a day before he was set to unveil his squad for the upcoming Nations League matches. At a news conference on Friday, Jesus stated that Ronaldo hadn't given him any prior warning about stepping away from international duty. He had planned to include Ronaldo in his squad, highlighting the forward's recent form and goal-scoring prowess. "I found out when we all did," Jesus said. "Until that moment, I was unaware of his decision. He was scoring goals and was on my list." Ronaldo had recently returned from a 30-day suspension from international play, which didn’t coincide with any matches. His last appearance for the national team was a 1-0 victory over Wales, which brought his international tally to an astonishing 146 goals over 234 games, solidifying his status as a record-breaker since he debuted in 2003. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had previously left the Portugal camp in September after being informed he wouldn’t start against Denmark. Ronaldo expressed his disappointment with Jesus, claiming the coach had "broken his word," although he later acknowledged that he deserved punishment for leaving early. Jesus showed signs of irritation during the press conference when questioned about the dispute, asserting that all his choices were made with the team's best interests in mind. "I am at peace with my decision," he stated firmly. Since Ronaldo's retirement announcement, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Pedro Proenca, has expressed gratitude towards the forward. He emphasized that no tribute could truly capture Ronaldo's contributions to Portuguese football. "Thank you for everything, captain. This is and always will be your home," Proenca remarked, underlining Ronaldo’s enduring legacy and ambition to be the best. As the football world reflects on his career, Ronaldo’s departure marks the end of an era for Portugal, leaving fans and officials alike to celebrate his remarkable achievements.