Messi given emotional Argentina farewell as Ronaldo accuses Jorge Jesus of 'breach of trust'
October 7, 2026 17:31
WHAT HAPPENED
Messi took the adulation of the crowd as his Argentina career finished with a goal in the match against Benin. The occasion in Buenos Aires was described as emotional.
Ronaldo's situation unfolded after he was an unused substitute in Portugal's Nations League win over Norway. He subsequently left the Portugal camp after learning he would not start against Denmark. In his statement he said Jesus had twice "broke his word" and accused the manager of an "absolute breach of trust" — citing first not playing him against Norway after saying he would, and then reversing an agreed account of events presented to the media.
Ronaldo apologised to fans and team-mates for leaving the camp and said the consequences of that action must be "assessed and punished". He also rejected the idea that he had played his last match for Portugal, writing: "We will have one or more farewell matches, there will be time for that."
Manager Jorge Jesus has said the door remains open for Ronaldo to return to the national team if he chooses to. Jesus reportedly had not seen Ronaldo's statement initially because he was watching the Portugal under-21 game.
Reaction in Portugal has been mixed. Portuguese journalist Jose Delgado told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I don't think there is a way back. In the statement, Ronaldo says he will return to the national team but at the same time he calls Jesus a liar three times." Delgado added: "Things will never be the same again." Billboards in Lisbon praising Ronaldo and criticising Jesus have also appeared.
KEY CONTEXT
Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 Portugal appearances — figures the source describes as world records — and helped his country win Euro 2016 and the Nations League twice. He has 979 career goals for club and country and has not indicated he will voluntarily retire before reaching 1,000.
There has been earlier debate over Ronaldo's role in the national team, including criticism of former Portugal boss Roberto Martinez's insistence on starting him at the recent World Cup and suggestions from some quarters that, at 41, he is not the player he once was.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Ronaldo says farewell fixtures will come in time. Beyond Jesus's public comment that the door is open, no decision on his future was confirmed in the source material.