Cristiano Ronaldo could have ended his international career after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but his love for Portugal convinced him to continue representing the national team, Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença has said.
Proença made the remarks while addressing the recent controversy involving Ronaldo and Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus, which resulted in the 41-year-old forward leaving the national team camp ahead of a Nations League fixture.
According to the federation president, Ronaldo remains an important part of the national team and his place in the squad is justified by his performances and contribution to Portuguese football.
Proença described Ronaldo as an icon of Portuguese football and said the forward’s decision to continue playing for the national team after the World Cup demonstrated his strong attachment to the country.
He also described the disagreement between Ronaldo and Jesus as a misunderstanding that should be resolved internally, adding that there would be time for both parties to sit down and address the matter.
Ronaldo’s international future has recently come under scrutiny after he left Portugal’s training camp following a disagreement surrounding his involvement in the team. However, both Jesus and the federation have indicated that the door remains open for his return.
The veteran forward remains Portugal’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 146 goals in 234 appearances for the national team.
