Cristiano Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen on Wednesday after head coach Jorge Jesus confirmed the striker would not start Thursday’s UEFA Nations League match against Denmark, chinadaily.com.cn reported. Ronaldo announced his departure late on Wednesday, shortly after a press conference at Parken Stadium where Jesus stated the 41-year-old would remain out of the starting lineup for a second consecutive match. In Ronaldo’s absence, Portugal secured a 4-2 victory over Denmark.
The forward had been scheduled to train with his teammates on the eve of the match but walked out following the coach’s announcement. Writing on Instagram, Ronaldo stated that following the manager’s press conference and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca, he decided to leave the training camp. He spent Sunday’s 2-1 win over Norway on the bench after captaining the side in a 1-0 home victory over Wales on September 24.
Jorge Jesus insists rules apply equally to all squad members
Spanish sports daily Marca reported that Jorge Jesus and federation president Pedro Proenca followed Ronaldo to Copenhagen airport to persuade him to stay before the player boarded his private jet. Jesus insisted there was no rift between him and Ronaldo, though he acknowledged the team captain was disappointed to remain on the bench in Oslo. The match against Norway marked the first time since November 2024 that Ronaldo had not featured for Portugal while not injured or suspended.
Jesus, who coached Ronaldo at Saudi club Al-Nassr for a year, defended his selection choices after the Denmark fixture. The 72-year-old coach stated that players with status exist, but maintained that rules apply uniformly across the squad. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro reportedly discussed Ronaldo’s involvement with the coach prior to the match. Jesus opted to start AC Milan striker Goncalo Ramos against Denmark, utilizing Ronaldo only if deemed necessary.
Elma Aveiro defends her brother amid social media fallout
Ronaldo’s departure prompted significant reaction online, including a sharp response from his sister, Elma Aveiro. On Instagram, she criticized the public reaction to the dispute, stating that critics do not deserve the best and claiming the country has returned to pre-CR7 mediocrity. The backlash highlighted ongoing tensions surrounding the veteran forward’s changing role within the national setup.
Ronaldo holds records as Portugal’s leading goalscorer and most capped player, with 146 goals in 234 appearances. Having made his international debut in 2003 at age 18, he captained the squad to victory at Euro 2016. He recently stated that the current period would probably be his last year in professional football, following Portugal’s elimination in the last 16 of the World Cup by Spain.