Lisbon’s international window has taken an unexpected turn after Cristiano Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from former United States forward Hérculez Gómez and renewed questions over the veteran striker’s place with the national side.
Departure from the Portugal camp
- Ronaldo’s exit followed comments made by coach Jorge Jesus during the international break.
- The forward then spoke with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation before deciding to leave the squad’s camp.
- In a public statement, Ronaldo said that, following the national-team coach’s press conference and his discussion with the federation president, he had chosen to depart the training camp.
- The move placed Portugal’s all-time leading scorer back at the centre of a debate about his future with the Seleção.
Gómez condemns Ronaldo’s decision
Gómez, now an ESPN analyst, viewed the departure as an abandonment of Ronaldo’s teammates rather than a routine camp decision.
“There are many people like that, that kind of person, and for Cristiano to betray his team in that way shows how small he is,” Gómez said.
The former international also rejected the idea that Ronaldo’s achievements or global profile could excuse the decision. He argued that however large Ronaldo may see himself in marketing terms, and regardless of what he has won, the episode reflected poorly on him.
The criticism adds another public voice to a controversy surrounding Portugal’s most celebrated modern player, whose decision to leave the camp came after his meeting with federation leadership.
