Uncertainty surrounds the future of Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in the national team after the 41-year-old forward walked out on the squad following an announcement from coach Jorge Jesus that he would not start Thursday’s game against Denmark.
Ronaldo announced on Wednesday night that he had left the team, shortly after a press conference in which Jesus confirmed the five-time Ballon d’Or winner would be left out of his starting line-up for a second consecutive game.
The former Real Madrid forward had been due to train with his teammates at the Parken Stadium on the eve of the UEFA Nations League match against the Danes, but walked out following the announcement by Jesus.
“After the press conference of the national team coach, and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have made the decision to leave the role of the national team,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram.
Ronaldo had already spent the entirety of Sunday’s 2-1 Nations League win in Norway on the bench, having captained the side in the 1-0 home victory over Wales last Thursday.
It is commonplace for national team coaches to rotate their squads for these matches, which do not carry the same level of importance as a World Cup or European Championship.
However, Ronaldo appeared to indicate that the reasons behind Jesus’s decision ran deeper.
He added: “In due time, I will tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that motivated my departure from the national team, to which I have always dedicated myself.
“Now is time to wish Portugal and all my teammates the very best for the future, without exception.”
Spanish sports daily Marca said Jesus and Portuguese federation president Pedro Proenca followed Ronaldo to Copenhagen airport in an attempt to persuade him to stay with the squad, before the player boarded his private jet.
Jesus insisted earlier on Wednesday that there was no rift between him and Ronaldo, although the 72-year-old – appointed coach in July – acknowledged that his captain was disappointed to remain on the bench against Norway.
The news sparked a wave of memes on social media and furious backlash from Ronaldo’s sister, Elma Aveiro.
Aveiro wrote on Instagram: “They (Portuguese people) don’t deserve to have the best of anything.
“We are envious, scornful, and ignorant, and we deserve to return to the mediocrity that defined us in the pre-CR7 era of football.”
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Meanwhile, Galatasaray forward Rafael Leao has been confirmed as Portugal’s number 7 for the next two games following Ronaldo’s departure.
“UEFA confirm Rafael Leão has been listed as Portugal No7 for the next two games following Cristiano leaving,” transfer expert Fabrizio Romano wrote on X on Thursday.
Ronaldo recently announced that this season would “probably be my last year in football”.
Ronaldo is Portugal’s leading goalscorer and most capped player, with 146 goals in 234 appearances.
The former Manchester United forward made his international debut at the age of 18 in 2003.
In 2004, he played in the Portugal side that lost the Euro 2004 final as hosts to Greece.
He later reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2006 and captained his country to glory at Euro 2016.
Ronaldo and Portugal went out of the 2026 World Cup in the last 16 after a defeat to Spain.
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