Cristiano Ronaldo has given his full account of why he walked out of Portugal’s training camp. He accuses head coach Jorge Jesus of breaking promises made in private, but admits he was wrong to leave and says the Portuguese Football Federation should punish him.

In a lengthy statement released on Tuesday, the 41-year-old also made clear he is not retiring from international football and will be available once any sanction has been served.

Ronaldo said he had prepared a farewell letter to the Portuguese people after the 2026 World Cup, but federation president, Pedro Proença urged him to reconsider on the flight home from the United States.

Proença also asked him about Jesus as a possible coach, and Ronaldo said he backed the appointment. According to him, Jesus later told him in person that he was central to the project and set out a plan. Ronaldo would play the opening and final matches, with three to four substitutions per game to manage his fitness.

The coach also floated the idea of Ronaldo skipping the trips to Norway and Denmark, which the captain rejected immediately. Ronaldo said Jesus accepted his reasoning, and that Al Nassr sporting director Simão Coutinho witnessed the conversation.

The trouble began in Norway. Ronaldo said that on the day of the game an assistant coach told him Jesus wanted to see him, and Jesus asked whether he could play 30 minutes.

Although this was outside his planned recovery schedule, he agreed. He warmed up from half-time but was never introduced as Portugal won 2-1. Ronaldo said Jesus had broken his word to him. He admitted he then failed to greet the travelling supporters, calling that his own responsibility and apologising to the fans.

Ronaldo said a meeting 48 hours later, involving himself, Jesus and Coutinho, settled how to end the matter. Jesus would open his next press conference by saying Ronaldo never asked for minutes, that the coach himself proposed the plan, and that it was a mistake to send him to warm up and then not use him. Ronaldo said the coach asked for a hug and promised to say this publicly.

A short note summarising the points was drawn up, which Ronaldo said he validated and which was sent to Jesus at the coach’s request.

Instead, Ronaldo said, the press conference showed an attitude of “I want, I can and I command” that Jesus had never displayed in private. He described the tone as aggressive and undeserved. Jesus had told reporters there was no rift, that the omission was part of a plan agreed with the player, and that he was the one making the decisions.

Ronaldo said it was the second time the coach had broken his word, and that he left camp rather than wait for a third. He also said he had told Proença and Jesus that morning that he would accept being told frankly if they no longer wanted him, and that they replied his place was in the squad.

Ronaldo accepted full responsibility for leaving despite what he called a breach of trust, apologised to the Portuguese public and to his teammates, and said his captaincy should count as an aggravating factor when the federation decides his punishment.

He also dismissed talk of a dignified send-off, saying nothing is handed to anyone and that he thinks of the national team in terms of competing. He added that he stayed with the squad on the day he learned of his father’s death and would play for Portugal again if he is fit and the suspension allows.

Portugal won in his absence, beating Denmark 4-2 in Copenhagen, and Jesus declined to discuss Ronaldo afterwards. Ronaldo, Portugal’s record scorer with 146 goals in 243 appearances, has previously said he is chasing 1,000 career goals and currently sits on 979. The federation has yet to announce any disciplinary decision.