In the aftermath of Portugal’s 2-1 win in Norway, Cristiano Ronaldo’s place in the national side briefly became louder than the result itself. The 41-year-old captain did not play in Oslo and later stayed out of Tuesday’s full group training session, despite having no reported physical problem.
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Portugal’s first international gathering under new head coach Jorge Jesus has been unsettled by Ronaldo’s omission. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had been an automatic selection before the trip to Norway, but remained among the substitutes throughout the Nations League victory.
Ronaldo had initially agreed with Jesus that he would feature only in Portugal’s home fixtures during this international window: the 1-0 victory against Wales on 24 September and the return meeting with Norway scheduled for Sunday.
However, the plan reportedly changed shortly before kick-off in Oslo. Ronaldo was told he would be used for the final half-hour, warmed up on the touchline, but was ultimately not sent on.
That sequence is said to have frustrated the forward, who went straight to the dressing room after the final whistle rather than acknowledging the travelling supporters. His absence from collective training on Tuesday added to the attention around the camp.
The situation quickly revived memories of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Ronaldo’s loss of his starting role also dominated discussion around Portugal. This time, the debate has overshadowed both the win in Norway and Portugal’s immediate sporting task.
Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença altered his schedule to travel to Copenhagen on Tuesday evening as tensions grew. Ronaldo and Jesus have since held another conversation and are understood to have resolved their disagreement.
The wider concern remains familiar: Portugal must find a balance in which every team selection is not reduced to a debate over whether Ronaldo starts. His status remains immense, even as the national team looks beyond a period in which he was an undisputed first name on the teamsheet.
Next appointment in Denmark
Portugal face Denmark in Copenhagen on Thursday at 20:45. A pre-match press conference scheduled for Wednesday at 16:00 is expected to address the episode and underline that relations within the squad have returned to normal.
