Cristiano Ronaldo has officially left the Portugal national team camp during the ongoing UEFA Nations League campaign, following a reported disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus. The 41-year-old forward, who holds the record for the most international goals (146) and appearances (234), will not be available for the upcoming fixtures against Denmark and Norway. But the 41-year-old was adamant and flew off, they hoped to convince him to stay.
The tension reportedly escalated after Ronaldo was benched during Portugal’s previous 2-1 victory over Norway, where AC Milan striker Goncalo Ramos scored the winning goal. Following the squad’s arrival in Copenhagen for the October 1 clash, sources indicate that a confrontation occurred after Jesus told the veteran superstar, “In this team, I am in charge.” Ronaldo subsequently bypassed team training on September 30, opting to board his private jet, which had arrived in Copenhagen at approximately 10:15 pm Spanish peninsular time. This comes after he was benched in their 2-1 win over Norway away in their last game. According to the outlet, On Wednesday, September 30, Cristiano Ronaldo called from his private jet, which was in Madrid.
In a dramatic attempt to salvage the situation, Portugal Football Federation President Pedro Proença joined Jorge Jesus in pursuing the forward to the airport. Despite their direct efforts to persuade the Al-Nassr star to remain with the squad, the player remained steadfast in his decision and departed. The incident has led to widespread speculation regarding a potential permanent retirement from international duty for the forward, who has previously secured one UEFA Euro title and two UEFA Nations League trophies for his country.
Addressing the fallout, Jorge Jesus publicly denied rumors of a personal rift while confirming his tactical decision to favor Goncalo Ramos for the match against Denmark. Jesus emphasized his authority regarding the selection, a sentiment he reiterated when discussing the team’s ongoing progress. Currently, Portugal leads Group D, having opened their 2026-27 Nations League run with a 1-0 victory over Wales. Following the October 1 match against Denmark, the team is scheduled to host Norway on Sunday, October 4.
