Cristiano Ronaldo walked out on Portugal's training camp Wednesday, hours after coach Jorge Jesus said the star forward would not start against Denmark in the Nations League on Thursday.
The 41-year-old Ronaldo said that "in time" he would "tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons" behind his departure.
"Following the national team coach's news conference, and after a conversation with the president of the Portuguese football federation, I decided to leave the national team's training camp," he said on Instagram, adding that he has always "dedicated" himself to the side.
"Now is the time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my teammates, without exception."
The Portuguese federation said only that Ronaldo had left the training camp and that preparations would continue with the remaining 24 squad members.
Jesus had said in the pregame news conference that he was not planning to start Ronaldo but dismissed the notion there was a feud between the pair.
The coach added that the "rules are the same for everyone" and that Goncalo Ramos would start up front against Denmark if everything went to plan.
"I don't know what's going to happen in the game," Jesus said. "If we need him (Ronaldo) to play (at some point), he'll play. If not, he won't."
Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men's international soccer with 146 goals and pursuing the milestone of 1,000 career goals, did not play Sunday in Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway. He has not trained with the rest of the group since, sparking widespread rumors about a possible feud with Jesus.
Ronaldo, who has 979 career goals, recently said this Saudi Pro League season is likely to be the last of his professional career.
Earlier this year, he said the 2026 World Cup would be the last of his career but did not specify when he would stop playing for Portugal.
Jesus, who worked with Ronaldo for about a year in Saudi Arabia, said the player did not refuse to practice after being left on the bench against Norway.
"It seems like there was an issue between us, but there was no issue," Jesus said. "I'm the one who makes the decisions and everybody knows that."
Jesus acknowledged he had told Ronaldo he would likely play against Norway but changed his mind because of the circumstances of the match.
He said it was a mistake to send Ronaldo to warm up for as long as he did and then not use him. Jesus added that "any player" would be upset about that.
"I can promise whatever I want, I'm the coach," Jesus said. "No player will ever make a decision for me."
Jesus said someone with Ronaldo's stature deserved a different level of attention from coaches "because of his career and history in soccer."
Jesus, who took over the squad from Roberto Martinez after the World Cup, said he ended up being "obligated" to have a meeting with Ronaldo because of the attention the situation had generated in Portugal.
But he maintained there was no "Ronaldo case" to discuss and there was nothing to resolve between him and the player.
Ronaldo started Portugal's 1-0 win over Wales last Thursday but was substituted in the 67th minute.
Portugal leads Group A4 of the Nations League with six points from two matches, three points ahead of Denmark and Norway. Wales is last with no points.
Portugal also hosts Norway on Sunday.
It was not immediately clear whether Ronaldo's departure would extend beyond the current international break.