Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has abruptly left the national team’s training camp in Denmark after head coach Jorge Jesus indicated that the veteran forward would again be left out of the starting lineup. Ronaldo announced his departure on Wednesday, September 30, shortly after Jesus held a press conference ahead of Portugal’s UEFA Nations League match against Denmark. The 41-year-old said his decision followed the coach’s comments and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença.
Ronaldo did not provide the full reason for leaving the camp but said he would explain his decision to Portuguese supporters “in due course.” He also wished Portugal and his teammates success in their upcoming matches. The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed that Ronaldo had left the squad but said the remaining players would continue preparing for the Denmark match and the subsequent Nations League fixture against Norway. The departure follows several days of tension surrounding Ronaldo’s role under new head coach Jorge Jesus. Ronaldo was left on the bench for Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway on Sunday and did not enter the match despite warming up. Jesus had previously told Ronaldo that he could be introduced from the bench but ultimately decided not to use him. Ronaldo subsequently trained separately from the squad, working in the gym on Monday and Tuesday. He was not reported to be injured. Jesus denied that Ronaldo had refused to train and rejected suggestions of a serious dispute between them. The coach said Ronaldo had been expected to return to team training and insisted that there had been no major incident. However, shortly after the coach’s press conference on Wednesday, Ronaldo left the training venue in Copenhagen and announced his departure from the national team camp. The situation has raised questions about Ronaldo’s future with Portugal, although he has not announced his retirement from international football. His departure comes at a particularly significant point in his international career as he continues to represent Portugal at the age of 41.
Ronaldo remains Portugal’s most-capped player, with 234 international appearances, and the country’s record goalscorer with 146 goals. Jesus was appointed Portugal’s head coach after the team’s disappointing World Cup campaign and is only beginning his tenure with the national side. The dispute involving Ronaldo therefore represents an early challenge as the new coach establishes his approach and squad selections. The Portugal Football Federation president travelled to Copenhagen amid the tensions and spoke with both Ronaldo and the coach. Ronaldo said his decision to leave came after his conversation with Proença, but he did not disclose details of what was discussed.
Portugal is scheduled to face Denmark in the Nations League on Thursday, with Ronaldo now unavailable for the match. The team will then prepare for its next fixture against Norway, with the remaining squad continuing preparations without its captain. Ronaldo’s sudden departure has generated widespread attention because of his long-standing importance to the Portuguese national team. He has been a central figure in Portugal’s international success for nearly two decades and was part of the squad that won the 2016 European Championship and the 2019 UEFA Nations League. For now, Ronaldo has not confirmed whether his departure is temporary or whether it could mark the beginning of the end of his international career. He has said he will explain the reasons behind his decision at a later stage. The immediate focus for Portugal will be its upcoming Nations League fixtures, while questions remain over whether Ronaldo and Jesus can resolve their differences and whether the captain will return to the national team.