Cristiano Ronaldo’s mom shares a real talk she had with him about the issue with Jorge Jesus
Cristiano Ronaldo’s mom, Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro, opened up about what she told her son after he left Portugal’s national team camp following a disagreement with coach Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo left just days after not playing in the 2-1 win over Norway on September 27. At first, Jesus said there was no problem, but Ronaldo hinted he would explain the real reasons behind his decision.
Jesus had told Ronaldo he might play for 30 minutes against Norway but then changed his mind. A meeting between Ronaldo, Jesus, and the Portuguese Football Federation president, Pedro Proença, didn’t solve things. On October 6, Ronaldo wrote a detailed statement accusing Jesus of repeatedly breaking his promises.
Now, Ronaldo’s 71-year-old mother shared a touching conversation she had with him after he left. “I was sad, which is normal—it was a shock. My son could have left on a high note, but instead, it felt like a small exit,” she said to TV 7 Dias. “I cried a bit, but sometimes it’s good to release feelings. We need to move forward.”
She revealed what she told Ronaldo during a phone call that made her emotional. “He said, ‘Mom, don’t worry, I’ll tell you everything when we’re all together.’ I told him, ‘Okay, son, just stay strong.’ I gave him all my support, even though it didn’t seem to help much. But he’s given so much to Portugal and has always been their hero, even if people don’t always show it.”
Leaving the team like this might mean Ronaldo faces a ban of up to six months and a fine. At 41, Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 games for Portugal. It’s not clear yet if he’ll be back for the November matches.
In his statement, Ronaldo explained that after the 2026 World Cup, he planned to retire from the national team but was asked by the federation to reconsider. He supported the choice of Jorge Jesus as coach and even met with him to discuss his role in the team. They agreed on a plan where Ronaldo would play some matches but not all, and he rejected an idea to stay home during some away games, wanting to lead by example as captain.
Things seemed fine until the Norway match, when Ronaldo was told last-minute he might play 30 minutes. He warmed up but never got on the field, which left him feeling let down. Afterward, he skipped greeting fans—a decision he regrets and has apologized for.
A follow-up meeting was held, and they agreed Jesus would clear the air publicly. But during the press conference, Jesus’s words didn’t match their private conversation, which upset Ronaldo. Feeling that Jesus had broken his trust again, Ronaldo left the camp, though he admits that leaving was his own choice and he apologizes to his teammates and fans.
He respects that there may be consequences from the Portuguese Football Federation for his action, especially since he is the team captain. Ronaldo also made it clear that farewell matches will happen in due time, but for now, his focus is on competing. He shared a personal story about staying at a camp to honor his late father, showing how much representing Portugal means to him.
Ronaldo ended by saying that if he’s fit and playing well for his club after any suspension, he will be ready to come back and give his best for his country. “This is the purest truth,” he said.