Ronaldo ends Portugal career as Jesus says he asked him to stay

Cristiano Ronaldo ended his Portugal career on November 5, bringing to a close an international run that began in August 2003. Coach Jorge Jesus said he had asked the forward to stay, but accepted his decision. “I asked him to continue with me because I needed him by my side,” Jesus said in an interview with Canal 11. He described Ronaldo as an icon for Portugal and a role model for young people, and said he had placed a large photograph of him in the national-team auditorium. Ronaldo’s announcement followed a dispute during Portugal’s September international window. After playing in a Nations League win over Wales, he was left on the bench for the next match against Norway. Jesus called on him to warm up but did not send him onto the field. Ronaldo later said he had been told he would play 30 minutes and that Jesus had gone back on his word. Jesus denied making an agreement over playing time and said team selection was his responsibility. Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen on September 30, according to one report, and was fined and suspended by the Portuguese Football Federation. He was nevertheless included in Jesus’s provisional plans for the November...