{
  "id": 19181115,
  "title": "'Real reason Cristiano Ronaldo retired' - Portuguese football! expert",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/real-reason-cristiano-ronaldo-retired-portuguese-football-expert",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T15:03:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/11/09/portugal-real-reason-cristiano-ronaldo-retires-portugueses-pedro-sepulveda/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Portuguese football expert Pedro Sepúlveda has revealed the true reason behind Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement from international football. According to Sepúlveda, the 41-year-old Portuguese star demanded a public apology from head coach Jorge Jesus, which was not granted. Jesus and Portuguese federation president Pedro Proença tried to persuade Ronaldo to reconsider his decision in the days leading up to the announcement. Ronaldo ended his 234-cap and 146-goal international career by confirming the decision in a video, returning the No. 7 shirt. The tension between the two had been growing since the September-October international window, with Ronaldo firmly stating that he would not accept an apology from Jesus. Sepúlveda concluded that Ronaldo's time under Jesus's management with the Portuguese national team was definitively over.",
  "summary": "Cristiano Ronaldo decided to retire from international football after the public apology he demanded from head coach Jorge Jesus was not forthcoming, according to Portuguese football expert Pedro Sepúlveda. Speaking to talkSPORT, Sepúlveda said Jesus and Portuguese federation president Pedro Proença spent the days before Ronaldo’s announcement trying to persuade the 41-year-old to reconsider.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal named in FIFPro World XI but no Harry Kane or Cristiano Ronaldo",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/lionel-messi-and-lamine-yamal-named-in-fifpro-world-xi-but-no-harry",
        "published": "2026-11-09T16:24:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Messi returns to FIFPRO World 11, Ballon d'Or winner Kane misses out",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/messi-returns-to-fifpro-world-11-ballon-dor-winner-kane-misses-out",
        "published": "2026-11-09T16:55:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Kane becomes first Ballon d’Or winner left out of FIFPRO World XI",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/kane-becomes-first-ballon-dor-winner-left-out-of-fifpro-world-xi",
        "published": "2026-11-09T18:56:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "3News",
        "title": "FIFPRO Men's World 11: Messi makes record 18th appearance as Kane and Ronaldo miss out",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/fifpro-mens-world-11-messi-makes-record-18th-appearance-as-kane-and",
        "published": "2026-11-09T21:04:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Messi returns to FIFPRO World 11, Ballon d’Or winner Kane misses out",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/messi-returns-to-fifpro-world-11-ballon-dor-winner-kane-misses-out-19231028",
        "published": "2026-11-09T22:01:36.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}