Cristiano Ronaldo has left the Portugal national team camp following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, saying he will reveal the reasons behind his departure “in due time”.
The veteran forward announced his decision in a statement on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, following the national team coach’s press conference, without providing details about what prompted him to leave the camp.
Ronaldo said his decision followed discussions with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, after which he chose to depart from the national team setup.
“After the National Team Coach’s press conference, and following a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I made the decision to leave the National Team camp,” Ronaldo said.
The 41-year-old did not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding his decision but indicated that he would eventually provide an explanation.
“In due time, I will tell the truth to all Portuguese people about the reasons that motivated my departure from the national team, to which I have always dedicated myself,” he said.
Ronaldo has been a central figure in Portugal’s national team for much of his career, having represented the country across numerous major international tournaments.
His statement, however, did not indicate whether his departure from the current camp represented a temporary decision or marked a broader change in his international career.
The forward instead turned his attention to Portugal and his teammates, wishing them well as the national team continues its campaign.
“Now is the time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my teammates, without exception,” Ronaldo said.
The statement came shortly after the national team coach addressed the media, although Ronaldo did not disclose which specific comments or issues discussed during the press conference contributed to his decision.
His reference to eventually telling the “truth” has left the circumstances surrounding his departure unexplained for now.
Ronaldo has consistently maintained a strong connection with the Portugal national team and has dedicated a significant part of his career to representing the country.
For now, he appears to have closed the matter by wishing the team and his teammates well, while indicating that a fuller explanation will come at a later stage.
The Portugal camp will therefore continue without Ronaldo, with attention likely to remain on the circumstances that led to his unexpected departure and his promised account of what happened.
