The 41-year-old forward walked out after head coach Jorge Jesus confirmed he would not start Thursday’s Nations League match.
Ronaldo walked out of Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen on Wednesday after head coach Jorge Jesus announced that the forward would not start their UEFA Nations League match against Denmark.
The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward announced his departure on Instagram hours after Jesus confirmed he would be dropped from the starting lineup. Ronaldo said his decision followed the manager’s news conference and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca. Ronaldo wrote that he has always ‘dedicated’ himself to Portugal and promised that ‘in time’ he would ‘tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons’ for walking away.
Jesus denied reports of a rift inside the camp. ‘There was no incident whatsoever,’ the 72-year-old manager told reporters before the Denmark game, though he acknowledged that his captain was disappointed about sitting on the bench against Norway. Jesus insisted that Ronaldo didn’t refuse to train, and he later said Portugal remain united despite the departure.
Ronaldo, Portugal’s record goalscorer and a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, captained the team during a 1-0 home victory against Wales last Thursday. He then remained an unused substitute during Sunday’s 2-1 away win over Norway in Oslo. That match was the first time since November 2024 that Ronaldo didn’t play for Portugal while available and not injured or suspended.
The walkout drew sharp reaction from his family. Ronaldo’s sister, Elma Aveiro, took to Instagram to criticize the Portuguese Football Federation, the national team, and domestic media, calling for ‘more respect’ for the forward. Portugal put the controversy aside on Thursday, beating Denmark 4-2 in Copenhagen without Cristiano Ronaldo in the squad.
