Cristiano Ronaldo Exits Portugal Camp After Being Benched

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s national team training camp after head coach Jorge Jesus announced plans to keep the 41-year-old forward out of the starting lineup for Thursday’s UEFA Nations League match against Denmark in Copenhagen. Ronaldo announced his departure on Wednesday following discussions with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença.

In a message posted on Instagram, Ronaldo wrote that he decided to leave after learning of the team selection. “In due course, I will tell all the Portuguese people the truth,” Ronaldo stated, while wishing his teammates success for the match. The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed his exit, stating that the remaining 24 squad members remain fully focused on their upcoming fixtures.

Manager Defends Selection Authority

Speaking at a news conference before Ronaldo’s exit, Jesus stated that Gonçalo Ramos would start up front against Denmark. Jesus emphasized his authority over the squad, saying, “I’m the one who makes the decisions and everybody knows that.” He added that “rules are the same for everyone,” though he acknowledged that a player of Ronaldo’s standing deserves distinct consideration from coaching staff.

Jesus revealed that a joint meeting took place between himself, Ronaldo, and federation president Proença to address public attention surrounding the squad. However, the manager maintained “there was no issue” between himself and the striker, adding that Ronaldo had agreed to respect his team choices.

Tensions Following Norway Match

The situation developed following Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway on Sunday, in which Ronaldo remained an unused substitute. Jesus admitted it was a mistake to have Ronaldo warm up for a long period without bringing him on, noting that “any player” would feel frustrated in that situation. Jesus said he had previously told Ronaldo he was likely to play against Norway before changing tactics during the game.

Ronaldo had previously started in Portugal’s 1-0 victory over Wales last Thursday before being substituted in the 67th minute. He did not participate in group training sessions after the Norway match and reportedly left the stadium training facility on Wednesday.

Background

Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 146 goals and is pursuing a career total of 1,000 goals. Head coach Jorge Jesus took charge of the national team following Roberto Martínez’s departure after the World Cup. Jesus previously managed Ronaldo for roughly a year during a stint in Saudi Arabia.

Portugal currently tops Group A4 of the UEFA Nations League with six points from two matches, ahead of Denmark and Norway with three points each, and Wales with zero points. It remains unconfirmed whether Ronaldo’s departure represents a temporary exit or a permanent end to his international career.